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Hunter: Intelligence Estimate Is “Flat Wrong” on Iran’s “Stopped” Nuclear Weapons Program
Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today called the recent National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) conclusion that Iran has "stopped" its weapons program "flat wrong."
"Today, 2,952 centrifuges are enriching uranium at Iran's Natanz facility," said Hunter. "This enriched uranium is the essential material which gives a nuclear weapon its enormous explosive power."
Hunter continued, "In light of the indisputable fact that the Iranians are producing this nuclear weapons material, how can the NIE conclude 'the weapons program is stopped.' That's like saying that an enemy has disarmed when it has stopped producing gun barrels but is still producing ammunition."
"If Iran is not moving forward with its nuclear weapons program, why is it increasing the production of nuclear weapons material?" concluded Hunter.
Rep. Hunter cited the following facts to support his conclusion:
· According to the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear programs and many nuclear experts, enriched uranium is the pacing item for nuclear weapons and Iran continues to enrich uranium at its Natanz Enrichment Facility.
· Iran has reportedly tripled the number of centrifuges it is operating at its Natanz facility during the last nine months. As of February 2007, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran was operating approximately 1,000 centrifuges at Natanz. A November 2007 IAEA report confirmed the operation of 2,952 centrifuges at Natanz.
· In recent public statements, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has indicated that Iran needs to build the 50,000 centrifuges that the Natanz facility is capable of housing.
· Despite media claims, the NIE confirmed that Iran’s nuclear weapons capability has not evaporated. In fact, it confirmed Iran maintains “the scientific, technical and industrial capacity” to produce nuclear weapons.
· According to the NIE, Natanz’s 2,952 operating centrifuges could produce enough fissile material for a weapon by 2009.
· The NIE also confirmed that Iran continues to develop a range of technical capabilities that could be applied to a nuclear weapons program.
· Finally, the NIE suggested that Iran would probably use covert facilities—rather than its declared civil nuclear sites—to produce highly enriched uranium for a weapon. Media reports suggest Iran has built numerous underground facilities, including underground and tunnel facilities at Natanz.
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