Iran Reveals Details of Nuclear Enrichment Plans
Charles Johnson
Fri Apr 28, 2006 at 4:48 pm PDT • Views: 186
From MEMRI TV, Iranian Nuclear Energy Organization chief Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh reveals details about Iran’s Manhattan Project, on Iranian state-controlled television.
Aghazadeh: In the early stages of our work we realized that our centrifuges had many malfunctions. We could not determine the reason, because there were no references or books we could consult to solve this. After considerable effort, we noticed that when our experts assembled the centrifuges, they did not wear cloth gloves. We realized that if you assemble the centrifuges with bare hands, a little bit of sweat from between the fingers may transfer to the rotor, and increase the mass. When the rotor spins, it becomes a problem, which completely unbalances the centrifuge, causing it to explode. When I say that it explodes, it doesn’t merely explode, but turns to powder.
Interviewer: With the high speed rotation…
Aghazadeh: Yes.
[…]
Aghazadeh: As for the centrifuges we possess, 48,000 such centrifuges can supply 30 tons of enriched uranium. As for more advanced machines - we indeed have plans to develop such machines. Having the advanced type of centrifuges and the new technology enables one to multiply production.
Frank says: