Context: Uranium Enrichment Iran
After strikes on Natanz and Isfahan, the concern is whether Iran can move from enrichment to a usable and deliverable nuclear weapon
Key Points
- Enrichment Levels → Natural uranium has U-235 (~0.7%) usable isotope (rest mostly U-238) → enrichment increases U-235 → 3–5% (power) → 20% → 60% → 90% (bomb) → 0–60% hard, 60–90% fast
- Iran’s Material Position → ~500 kg at 60% → can reach 90% in ~2 weeks → ~25 kg enough for 1 bomb → material stage nearly achieved
- Weaponisation Gap → gas to metal conversion → core shaping → detonation system → needs precision; takes weeks to months
- Delivery Systems → Shahab-3 (~1000–1300 km, ~700–1000 kg payload), Sejjil (~2000 km, solid fuel) → range and payload adequate; integration uncertain
- Core Issue → miniaturisation of warhead + survival during re-entry + integration with missile → most complex and decisive barrier
