Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments. 2004

摘要

Inspections in 2003 of Iran's nuclear program revealed significant undeclared activities with potential application for nuclear weapons. The most recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) details detail two uranium enrichment programs (centrifuges and lasers) and the separation of plutonium, another fissile material, in small quantities. Although the IAEA has stated previously that Iran has not met all of its NPT obligations, it has not yet declared Iran in violation of the NPT. Iran declared in November 2003 that it would halt all enrichment and reprocessing-related activities and would sign an Additional Protocol, which contains provisions for enhanced inspection. Although it signed an additional protocol on December 18, 2003, Iran continued to assemble centrifuge components. In late February 2004, it halted this activity also. The IAEA Board of Governors meets again in March to consider Iran s compliance. This report, which will be updated as needed, analyzes the significance of the IAEA s findings for a possible Iranian nuclear weapons program. See also CRS Report RL30551, Iran: Arms and Weapons of Mass Destruction Suppliers.