Figuring out Fordow

摘要

The revelation that Iran is building a new enrichment facility outside Qom was widely portrayed as proof of Tehran's nuclear weapons programme. But, what is the plants capability and what does this mean? rnOn 25 September 2009 Western leaders accused Iran of building a new and secret uranium enrichment facility, now known as the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, in a mountain near the holy city of Qpm. Iran had announced the facility to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) just days before and, Tehran claimed, well in advance of what it sees as its legal obligations. Western governments contended that the characteristics of the Fordow plant were inconsistent with a commercial facility and, therefore, inconsistent with a peaceful nuclear programme.