This assessment is the seventh version of a recurring analysis of Iran’s nuclear program. This product is an exposition of the technical data contained in numerous International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports informed by the discussions of experts in the field of nuclear proliferation. It is a work in progress in that it will be revised continuously based on new information from the IAEA reports and other sources and on feedback from readers. We welcome your informed commentary on the technical considerations presented in this document. Please send your comments, with references to source-date or documentation, to INP@aei.org.
For more on Iran's nuclear program, visit www.irantracker.org.
2. November 2012 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Findings
Additional Centrifuge Installation
Iran increased its enrichment capacity by installing additional centrifuges at its declared sites between
August and November 2012. The hardened Fordow facility is now at maximum capacity (2,784
centrifuges). Of the 2,784, 696 centrifuges are currently enriching at Fordow and 696 are ready to
begin enriching immediately. The IAEA also noted the addition of first-generation and advanced
centrifuges, the latter undergoing testing, at the Natanz facility.
Increasing Enriched Uranium Stockpiles
Iran continues to produce low- (<5%) and medium-enriched (near 20%) uranium at historically high
rates. It has now allocated roughly 40% of its medium-enriched uranium for conversion to reactor fuel
plates; only a small fraction of the allocated material, however, has been packaged into fuel plates
and placed into a reactor core as of August 2012.
Parchin Facility Inspection
Iran continues to deny the IAEA access to the Parchin facility, where the agency believes Iran
conducted experiments related to nuclear weapons development. The IAEA noted that, even if it is
given access to the site, its ability to “conduct effective verification will have been seriously
undermined” by physical disruption and sanitization undertaken by Iran at the facility in 2012.
Weaponization
Iran continues to stonewall the IAEA regarding its weaponization activities. The agency reiterated its
assessment of Iran’s work on nuclear weapons development: “the information indicates that, prior to
the end of 2003 the activities took place under a structured program; that some continued after 2003;
and that some may still be ongoing.”
Arak Reactor Timeline
Iran told the IAEA that it will begin operating the Arak heavy water reactor later than previously
planned. The reactor, now scheduled for an early 2014 launch, will provide Iran with a separate
pathway to acquiring fissile material for nuclear weapons in the form of weapons-grade plutonium.
Page 2
3. Status of Near-20% Enriched Uranium
Iran has enough near-20% enriched uranium with which to produce weapons-grade
uranium (WGU) for one warhead. Some of this material is currently stored in oxide
powder form, which can be converted back into a gas for weapons-grade enrichment.
NEAR-20% ENRICHED URANIUM
141 kg needed to produce one warhead’s worth of WGU
156 kg produced as of November 2012 IAEA report (see pie chart for breakdown)
151.5 kg available in gas or oxide powder form (allocated for use in fuel plates for Tehran Research Reactor)
3.4 kg 1.1 kg
Converted into U3O8 fuel Enriched down to <4%
plates and placed into or
irradiated in reactor core
(as of August 2012)
52 kg
99.5 kg
Fed into process for
Stored as enriched
conversion to U3O8
uranium gas
(available for WGU
(available now for WGU
production after re-
production)
conversion to gas form)*
Total near-20% enriched
uranium produced: 156 kg
*Methods for converting near-20% material in U3O8 form back into a gas “are standard processes in the nuclear industry and Iran uses them as part of its
uranium ore processing.”1 The conversion can be done using specialized facilities and can be accomplished in “days to weeks.”2 The near-20% LEU can
only be classified as unusable in a breakout once the fuel assemblies containing the U3O8 are inserted and irradiated in a reactor core. Only a small
fraction of Iran’s near-20% LEU in the form of U3O8 has been manufactured into fuel assemblies and placed into or irradiated in a reactor core (3.4 kg).
1) Gregory Jones, “Fueling the Tehran Research Reactor: Technical Considerations on the Risks and Benefits,” NPEC, October 12, 2009.
Page 3
2) Ibid.
5. Nuclear Program Expansion
Iran will likely have enough near-20% enriched uranium to rapidly produce fissile
material for 2 nuclear weapons by late 2013 or early 2014.
Iran has installed many more centrifuges at the hardened Fordow facility than are now
actually spinning, providing a reserve and/or surge capacity that will be difficult for
Israel to destroy.
The installation of 2,088 additional centrifuges at Fordow since summer 2012 gives Iran
the ability to:
produce near-weapons grade uranium (20% enrichment level) in larger quantities
faster, providing rapidly-convertible feedstock for a small arsenal of nuclear
weapons;
convert near-weapons grade uranium into nuclear weapons fuel in a shorter
amount of time.
Iran’s uranium enrichment is at historically high rates despite increasing sanctions and
damage to the Iranian economy.
Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it plans to begin operating
the Arak heavy water reactor in early 2014 (it had previously planned commencement
for mid-to-late 2013). This reactor will be capable of producing two warheads’ worth of
weapons-grade plutonium per year once operational.
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6. Breakout Timelines
Time needed to produce fuel for 1 nuclear weapon:
Iran needs 3.6 months to produce 25 kg of weapons-grade uranium and 1.9 months to
produce weapons-grade uranium at the buried Fordow and pilot Natanz enrichment
facilities.* It can cut these times significantly using the centrifuges installed but not
yet operating at the Fordow facility.
Iran needs 4-10.5 weeks to produce 25 kg of weapons-grade uranium and 1.5-5 weeks
to produce 15 kg of weapons-grade uranium at the main Natanz enrichment facility.*
The higher end of the range accounts for a three-step conversion process.
Estimates of the time Iran needs to build a nuclear device to use this fissile material are
generally longer than the timelines above.
The existence of undeclared (covert) enrichment sites would have a significant impact
on breakout estimates.
Evidence of significant Iranian enrichment beyond 20% will strongly suggest not only
that the decision to weaponize has been made, but also that the Iranians believe they
have (or will shortly have) a viable warhead.
*All enriched uranium figures are given in terms of solid uranium (where 1 kg uranium hexafluoride is equal to ~0.67 kg
elemental uranium). Estimates assume Natanz and Fordow are used with the operational capacity reflected in the November
2012 IAEA report. Iran may need 15-25 kg of weapons-grade uranium for an implosion-type bomb design depending on its
level of technical ability (high technical ability would require less material). See pages 18, 19, and 22 for further detail. Page 6
7. Iran has outfitted the hardened Fordow enrichment facility with 2,784 IR-1
centrifuges. This expansion gives Iran the capacity to produce near-20%
enriched uranium at a faster rate and the means to convert that stockpile
to weapons-grade uranium (WGU) more rapidly in a deeply buried site.
Time needed to produce WGU Time needed to produce near-
for 1 warhead from near-20% 20% enriched uranium feed
enriched uranium at Fordow for WGU for second warhead*
Using 696 centrifuges
currently enriching 4.7 MONTHS 14 MONTHS
Using 1,392
centrifuges currently
enriching and under 2.4 MONTHS 8.6 MONTHS
vacuum
Using all 2,784
centrifuges available
1.2 MONTHS 4.7 MONTHS
*Assumes constant production of near-20% enriched uranium at smaller pilot facility at Natanz Page 7
18. Scope
This product is an exposition of the technical data contained in numerous
IAEA reports informed by the discussions of experts in the field of nuclear
proliferation. It is a work-in-progress in that it will be revised continuously
based on new information from the IAEA and other sources and on feedback
from readers.
We welcome your informed commentary on the technical considerations
presented in this document. Please send your comments, with references to
source-data or documentation, to INP@AEI.ORG.
This product does NOT contain policy recommendations. It is intended solely
to inform the policy community and the American public about the nature
and progress of the Iranian nuclear program.
This product does NOT assess Iran’s intentions to weaponize or to pursue
breakout scenarios. It is focused entirely on technical feasibility.
Page 18
22. Projections for the February 2013 IAEA Report
IR-1 centrifuges being fed at Natanz FEP: 9,156 (moderate confidence)
Total 3.5% LEU produced at Natanz FEP: 5,567 kg (moderate confidence)*
IR-1 centrifuges being fed for 19.75% enrichment at Natanz and Fordow: 1,024 (low confidence)
Total 19.75% LEU produced at Natanz PFEP and Fordow FEP: 184.8 kg (moderate confidence)*
PREVIOUS PROJECTIONS
3.5% LEU
We previously estimated that Iran would produce an additional 498 kg of 3.5% enriched uranium
at Natanz during the last reporting period. The IAEA reported that Iran produced about 492 kg
3.5% enriched uranium during the period.
19.75% LEU
We previously estimated that Iran would produce an additional 23 kg of 19.75% enriched uranium
at Natanz and Fordow during the last reporting period. The IAEA reported that Iran produced
about 29 kg 19.75% enriched uranium. The error is attributed to timing (our estimate was based
on a November 4 measurement and the actual measurement took place on November 10-11) and
increased production rate per centrifuge at Fordow.
*Assuming IAEA measurement on 11 FEB 2013 Page 22