Iran: Scientists Made Fuel Rod for Research Reactor
US-Built Reactor Provides Medical Isotopes
Iran’s state media has announced today that scientists have successfully produced the first domestically-made fuel rod for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), successfully tested it and have inserted it into core.
The TRR is an aging US-built reactor which provides medical isotopes for all of Iran’s hospitals. The nation had been running low on fuel for the reactor for years, and attempts to reach a deal to acquire fuel rods abroad have all ended in failure.
The TRR runs on 20 percent enriched uranium processed into specialized fuel rods. Iran has been enriching uranium to 20 percent in small batches since early 2010 in an attempt to create their own fuel rods.
Most of Iran’s enrichment program is targeted at the 3.5 percent level needed for energy production, and international officials have condemned the 20 percent, technically “highly enriched uranium” despite being well below weapons grade as a hostile action, claiming they didn’t believe Iran would be able to produce the fuel rods from the uranium at any rate. In the end, it seems they were able to figure it out.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Centrifuge Glitch Fuels Latest Iran Scare Stories - May 25th, 2012
- Iraq MPs Push Return to Saddam-Era Conscription Laws - May 25th, 2012
- US Negotiator on Iran to 'Reaffirm Our Unshakeable Commitment to Israel' - May 25th, 2012
- UN: Syria Bombings Likely by 'Established Terrorist Groups' - May 25th, 2012
- Military to Avoid Embarrassing Pictures by Banning Photography - May 25th, 2012
tadzio
January 2nd, 2012 at 4:34 am
The US could easily have sold or not have used its influence to block others from selling enriched rods to Iran as was formerly the case. The refusal to do so forced Iran to either let paients die or make rods themselves. To withhold medical treatment to the innocent in order to provoke a casus belli is a vile tactic. It cannot be defended in any way. Neocon equals evil.
Nathan
January 2nd, 2012 at 8:44 pm
“…international officials have condemned the 20 percent…”
F-ck the international officials who are British, French, and the rest of the idiots.
jgmoebus
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:46 pm
The United States and the rest of the so-called "civilized" and "free" world has waged war upon the people of Iraq ever since Saddam followed orders from his handlers in DC and invaded Kuwait, paving the way for the establishment of a permanent, large-scale military presence in the Middle East. First the Sanctions, then the Invasion, "Liberation," and Occupation.
When it begins to follow the same route against Iran, Who and/or What is going to stop it?
Will the American and European so-called peace, antiwar, and social justice community be as totally and completely ineffectual and ignored as it was when it protested against each of the various stages of the so-called "War" Against so-called "Terrorism" (Afghanistan and then Iraq)?
WHEN will The Fourth Reich be confronted and combated?
HOW is it to be defeated and destroyed?