The time Iran needs to produce the uranium for a nuclear bomb is “too short,” a report says

The warning comes amid renewed nuclear talks between Iran and world powers

Congress is considering legislation that could tighten sanctions on Iran

Iran would likely need much more time to make a weapon with it

CNN, 25 Oct 2013 – Iran may only need a month to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb, a U.S.-based anti-proliferation group says in a new assessment of Tehran’s enrichment program.
But it could take much longer for the country to turn it into a usable nuclear weapon.
The warning Thursday from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) was released as U.S. lawmakers consider legislation that could tighten sanctions on Iran until a deal is reached on the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear program.
It also comes after talks resumed on the program between Iran and six world powers — the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain — known as the P5+1.
The new report by ISIS examines a series of scenarios under which Iran could produce a sufficient quantity of weapons-grade uranium to make a nuclear bomb — and “break out” of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
CNN is reaching out to Iran’s government for comment on the report. Friday is a weekend day in Iran, and government offices are closed.
Important for negotiations
The quickest approach in the current circumstances could take “as little as approximately 1.0–1.6 months,” according to ISIS, whose experts have been assessing Iran’s enrichment program for years.
“The shortening breakout times have implications for any negotiation with Iran,” the report warns. “An essential finding is that they are currently too short and shortening further, based on the current trend of centrifuge deployments.”
ISIS says that its estimates don’t include the additional time that Iran would need to convert the enriched uranium into weapons components and build a nuclear missile.
“This extra time could be substantial, particularly if Iran wanted to build a reliable warhead for a ballistic missile,” the report says. “However, these preparations would most likely be conducted at secret sites and would be difficult to detect.”
Painful sanctions
Iran, whose economy is suffering severely under the U.S. and U.N. sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program, has long maintained that it is developing nuclear energy capabilities for peaceful purposes only.
But amid a tentative thaw in relations between Tehran and Washington since Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office, there have been fears in some countries in the Middle East, such as Israel, that the United States might be too quick to offer incentives to Iran in the latest round of negotiations.
And members from both parties in the U.S. Congress have urged the Obama administration not to prematurely loosen any of the sanctions that are choking Iran’s economy.
Iran nuclear talks
The next round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 is scheduled to take place next month in Geneva.
Secretary of State John Kerry said this week that the United States will not let up its pressure on Tehran despite the recent diplomatic overtures between the two countries.
“We will pursue a diplomatic initiative with eyes wide open, aware it will be vital for Iran to live up to those standards other nations that have nuclear programs live up to as they prove those programs are indeed peaceful,” Kerry said in Rome during a meeting Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“No deal is better than a bad deal,” Kerry said echoing Netanyahu as the two began approximately seven hours of talks about Iran, Syria, and the peace process with the Palestinians. “But if this can be solved satisfactorily, diplomatically, it is clearly better for everyone.”