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• In November of 2008, experts estimated that Iran had produced enough nuclear material to make one atom bomb. However, in order to produce a weapon, Iranians would have to further purify the nuclear material and fashion it into a warhead, which would require technology that experts are not certain that Iran possesses.The New York Times: Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon (November 19, 2008) According to a February 2009 report, the Muslim nation had amassed more than a ton of enriched uranium, a third more than it had previously reported.New York Times: Iran Has More Enriched Uranium Than Thought (February 19, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. As of November 2008, Iran had reportedly produced approximately 1,390 pounds of low-enriched uraniumThe New York Times: Iran Said to Have Nuclear Fuel for One Weapon (November 19, 2008)
  2. U.S. and Israeli officials estimate that Iran could have enough uranium to produce nuclear weapons as early as the end of 2008ABC News: Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran (June 30, 2008)
  3. Israel launched an air force training exercise in early June of 2008ABC News: Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran (June 30, 2008)
  4. Israel is estimated to have the world's sixth largest store of nuclear weaponsUSA Today: Olmert visits Israeli nuclear reactor (July 1, 2008)
  5. In December of 2007, reports surfaced that Iran was purchasing an S-300 air defense system from RussiaFOX News: Russia Selling Iran Sophisticated New Air Defense System (December 26, 2007)
  6. The threat of an Israeli attack on Iran drove crude oil prices to a record highThe Herald: Nuclear fears drive oil prices higher (July 1, 2008)

• Threat of Attack

  In late June of 2008, senior Israeli government officials suggested that they may launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities to prevent the suspected development of nuclear weapons.The Herald: Nuclear fears drive oil prices higher (July 1, 2008) Pentagon officials expressed concerns that an Israeli attack on Iran could lead to retaliatory action against the United States and its Middle Eastern interests.ABC News: Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran (June 30, 2008)

• Admitted Nuclear Development

  On November 7, 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared a milestone in the development of Iran's nuclear program. According to the Iranian leader, the country is operating 3,000 uranium-enriching centrifuges. While Iran has the right to develop a nuclear program for fuel purposes, international speculation suggests that Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons.Jerusalem Post: Ahmadinejad: 3,000 centrifuges running (November 7, 2007)

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Iran | Iran Nuclear Crisis | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | Tensions with Iran | Nuclear Proliferation | Israel Bomb Iran Request | How to Survive a Nuclear Attack

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