This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Ship Carrying Over 11 Tons Of Low-Enriched Uranium Leaves Iran For Russia

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Earlier today, a ship carrying over 25,000 pounds (11,000 kg) of low-enriched uranium materials allegedly departed from Iran for Russia, in what was dubbed a key step in Tehran's implementation of this year's historic nuclear accord with world powers. According to John Kerry this was "one of the most significant steps Iran has taken toward fulfilling its commitments."

"I am pleased to report that we have seen important indications of significant progress towards Iran completing its key nuclear commitments under the deal," Kerry said in a statement.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed the report after Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told the ISNA news agency: "The fuel exchange process has taken place."

The shipment included the removal of all of Iran's nuclear material enriched to 20 percent that was not already in the form of fabricated fuel plates for the Tehran Research Reactor, he said.

Monday's shipment more than triples the previous two- to three-month breakout timeline for Iran to acquire enough weapons grade uranium for one weapon, Kerry said, hailing it "an important piece of the technical equation that ensures an eventual breakout time of at least one year by Implementation Day" according toa  Xinhua report.

AFP adds that according to ISNA's report, Iran had sent 8.5 tons of low-enriched nuclear material to Russia and received "around 140 tons of natural uranium in return."

State Department spokesman Mark Toner described the cargo as a 25,000-pound "combination of forms of low-enriched uranium materials" including five and 20 percent enriched uranium, scrap metal and unfinished fuel plates.

"So that actually constitutes, I think, almost all of Iran's current stockpile of enriched uranium," he added.

Under the nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers in July, Iran is required to ship out all except 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium.

The French media outlet adds that under the deal struck in July in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers, Tehran agreed to cut its low-enriched uranium (LEU) stockpile to less than 300 kilograms (660 pounds).

This would mean that it would not have enough fuel on hand to rapidly enrich enough to the levels needed to build a nuclear weapon -- lengthening its so-called "breakout time" to more than a year.

 

Kerry said that Iran's shipment to Russia had already tripled the amount of time it would take to produce enough fuel for a bomb from two or three months up to six or nine.

 

And he dubbed it "a significant step toward Iran meeting its commitment to have no more than 300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium by Implementation Day."

Kerry promised that the United States would repeal its nuclear-related sanctions once Implementation Day arrives. But he warned "we will remain vigilant to ensure that its implementation achieves exactly what we set out to do from the very beginning of these negotiations, to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is and always remains exclusively for peaceful purposes."

Meanwhile, even though the IAEA was not able to independently verify Iran's claim, it was said the atomic agency would be given greater access to Iranian facilities for its inspectors, "and will install seals and monitoring devices to ensure there is no backsliding." The United States would wait until the UN agency makes a ruling to say formally whether Washington now accepts that Iran has less than 300 kilos of LEU.

In other words nobody actually knows whether or not Iran did as it says it did.

So, in a nutshell, this is how Iran's compliance with Obama's historic nuclear deal took place:

  • Iran, whose parliament has still not signed the "landmark" historic deal, has self-inspected a ship loaded with 11 tons of low-enriched uranium which has been dispatched toward Russia, or so Iran promises.
  • The Russian foreign ministry, which is supposed to receive Iran's 11 tons of low-enriched uranium, or "almost all of Iran's current stockpile of enriched uranium", has taken Iran's word for what is on the ship and has confirmed that the exchange process has taken place.
  • This is the same Iran, which has already breached the terms of the nuclear deal (which it has not signed) by launching a ballistic missile test several weeks ago.
  • Assuming the ship is indeed loaded with weapons-grade uranium, Putin is quite grateful as he just got a free gift of enough material to create another several nuclear warheads assuming of course, Russia does not just turn around and send back the Iran cargo under a different ship, one which will not be "self-reported" by Iran.

Finally, assuming Iran has complied with the nuclear shipment, once this has been verified, the United States and its allies will begin to dismantle the sanctions imposed on Tehran in response to its nuclear program. This means all those 30 million barrels of Iran oil currently loaded up on tankers somewhere around the globe, just waiting for the official lifting of sanctions, will promptly flood the physical market and send the price of oil plunging even more.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:45 | 6972451 OldPhart
OldPhart's picture

Hey, we finally found "Ali Akbar" that every terrorist is praising... and he's the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization!

Looks like Iran & Russia are sticking to the terms of the deal.  Watch our war criminal government renege on it.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 22:12 | 6972696 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

"Yes, Chief War Eagle, the Great Father in Vichy has promised these lands to your Tribe forever. You may always have and hunt the Buffalo, where they roam."

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 23:58 | 6973011 Boris Alatovkrap
Boris Alatovkrap's picture

Vlad is disarm Iran of fissile material. John who?

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:19 | 6973044 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

Ummm...pardon me, but doesn't Iran have a better safety record of handling Nuke material than Russia?

Seems like the stuff would be better kept safe in Iran...

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:26 | 6973060 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

What's up with that pic?

Storing Uranium in 55 gallon drums?

Those guys look like they're ready to take a get some "fresh air" walk in China; not like they're going to handle Uranium?

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:50 | 6973091 brockhardman
brockhardman's picture

All I know is that if John Kerry is happy about something, we're fucked.

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 09:46 | 6973635 kralizec
kralizec's picture

Well, I know I can sleep easier at night knowing "almost all" of Iran's enriched uranium is on its way to Mother Russia...especially since it was self-inspected by Iranians.

Whew!  What a relief!

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:46 | 6972452 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

30 million barrels of Iran oil currently loaded up on tankers somewhere around the globe, just waiting for the official lifting of sanctions, will promptly flood the physical market and send the price of oil plunging even more.

World oil consumption is about 95 million barrels a day.  So 30 million barrels represent 7.6 hours of world oil consumption.  They will barely affect oil prices.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:53 | 6972463 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Not noted in this calculation is the time it takes Iran to load up tankers with the next 30 million. Thus the effect upon the margin is still up for debate.

YMMV

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:21 | 6972535 SoilMyselfRotten
SoilMyselfRotten's picture

Nearly 3.4 m barrels/day is not insignificant 

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:49 | 6972635 sam i am
sam i am's picture

 

In previous Cold War, USSR had plenty of reasons not to use nukes. These reasons are gone now (mostly due to US foreign policy)

http://thesaker.is/in-previous-cold-war-ussr-had-plenty-of-reasons-not-t...

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 05:25 | 6973320 OldPhart
OldPhart's picture

But they're still producing, every second; and we've aready got hundreds of vessles sitting outside of terminals to unload.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:46 | 6972453 Thick Willy
Thick Willy's picture

Whose interests are served by allowing more nuclear armed Moslem states?

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:59 | 6972479 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Its a shame Iraq ,Libya and Syria didn't have nukes.It was definitely not in their interest not

to have them.The P5+1 were well aware that Iran already had nukes, bought on the black market

during the breakup of the Soviets,so the only question unanswered from this kabuki theater is

what currency is Irans oil being sold in ? and how long will the deal stand ?

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:04 | 6972485 Salami
Salami's picture

In solid gold

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:19 | 6972527 theallseeinggod
theallseeinggod's picture

We'll know when they switch from dollar(if they start with it), because msm will start accusing them of making wmds. 

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 04:11 | 6973271 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

except Iran doesn't have any nuclear arms.  Never did.  Just a lie and pretext promulgated by Israel and its minions.

 

You zionist faggot.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 20:48 | 6972457 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Peace in our time.

Thanks John!

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 04:29 | 6973279 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

ah a reference to Neville Chamberlain from yet another ignorant twat who had bought Israel's propaganda. 

Real original.  Which neocon did you get that from?  Kristol?  Krauthammer? Bibi himself?  Yeah, I remember them being real cheerleaders for the Iraq war, too.  But hey, if you reference Neville Chamberlain, you automatically win the debate, right?

 

Meanwhile, if you have evidence of Iran diverting any nuclear material at all - why don't you inform US or Israeli intelligence?  Because they don't have it.  Neither does the IAEA. 

And the recent "deal" was unprecedented - Iran agreed to give up all sorts of rights it was due under the UN charter and iaea.  And yes Jewish propaganda is so pervasive that stupid moron fucks like you can even turn handing over 20% enriched material - which is not weapons grade, at all, is somehow giving in to terrorists.

 

I begin to think you aren't this stupid - that you are in fact a Zionist Jew who simply doesn't care about the facts - you're here to promote the neocon narrative.

Until now - all we seem to get are fakes like the "laptop of death". And Israel posing as cia agents to work with terrorists, and Israeli spy rings stealing us tech and selling missile tech to China... and engaging in the mass slaughter of Muslims every so often, claiming "defense" of course, every bombed power station, school and hospital contained weapons as deadly as those used to kill hundreds and hundreds of civilians. 

Is that about your level of understanding?  Dumb fuck?

No need for israel to sign the npt or allow inspections or adhere to the geneva conventions though, right, Moishe? 

 

 

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:01 | 6972482 Salami
Salami's picture

So after sanctions are lifted we are going to see 30 million barrels of Iran oil added to the market daily? If so I would not be suprized if oil hits $15 a barrel.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:08 | 6972496 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

Iran's oil production is only 2.9 million barrels a day.  It may increase by 100,000 barrels day after sanctions are lifted.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:11 | 6972503 BurningFuld
BurningFuld's picture

Sanity. It's what's for dinner.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:06 | 6972489 I-Engineer
I-Engineer's picture

Where is the IAEA on this one? They come around the reactor I work at for random audits and we take it up the ass like a good little boy. They want to know where the uranium is down to five decimal places of grams(g).

P.S. LEU is a long way from being "weapons-grade uranium".

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 23:23 | 6972907 Flagit
Flagit's picture

How many days can people not show up for work before things go into meltdown?

 

 

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 21:53 | 6972649 Kina
Kina's picture

Iran worked out that it is easier to buy nuclear weapons from China, Pakistan, India, Russia than make their own.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 22:08 | 6972687 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Speaking of which, Iran has signed the NNPT. Under that Accord, they have a right to build power reactors.

There is another country on the Med which has never signed any agreements or allowed any inspections.

Are the leaders of this small country Special Snowflakes?

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 22:29 | 6972741 HenryHall
HenryHall's picture

Does anyone know the name of the ship?

It would be interesting to see what route it takes by tracking on AIS.

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 22:51 | 6972805 carlnpa
carlnpa's picture

Lets see, Russia negotiates the removal of Syrias chemical weapons stockpiles.  Syria follows through, the material is destroyed and Russia is the bad guy.  The neocons shit a brick and foment Ukraine as thanks to Russia.

Obama (no love here) negotiates the removal of LEU, Iran follows though with Russia as the mediator.  The neocons shit a brick and foment Ukraine (downed power lines, export mercs to Crimea to foment) as thanks to Russia.

Putin spent a week with Orthodox monks some time ago, I expected Putin to come out swinging in world affairs, he didn't.

Something has gone entirely wrong in my country, this picture is wrong, I'm disgusted.

What have we become?  Some sort of fucked up brain addled barbarians?

We need an intervention.

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 07:22 | 6973406 Himins
Himins's picture

<<We need an Intervention.
<< We need an Exorcism 

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 09:45 | 6973628 commie
commie's picture

Putin spent a week with Orthodox monks some time ago

 

 

Figures. So whhat they say about him is true. 

Mon, 12/28/2015 - 23:31 | 6972930 jmaloy5365
jmaloy5365's picture

Why the fuck does Russia need Iran's nuclear material? They have thousands of nukes.

Calling BS on this. 

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:01 | 6973018 I-Engineer
I-Engineer's picture

Good question. But since I already said above that LEU has nothing to do with nukes; the definition of LEU is basically "can't be used for nukes".

However, it is good for reactor fuel.

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:23 | 6973054 FireBrander
FireBrander's picture

Any word on what was UNLOADED from that ship before the Nuke material was loaded?

Wouldn't put it past Vlad...raw material exchanged for a working nuke...

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 04:23 | 6973281 Johnny Horscaulk
Johnny Horscaulk's picture

holy shit - read a fucking paper now and then, stupid.

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 01:02 | 6973105 onmail1
onmail1's picture

<-- Meanwhile  USA backed Israel processing & possessing huge nos. of nukes

No problem

'Dey are gawds own ppl'

doin gawd's own work 

using USA screwwing the whole world

 

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 01:19 | 6973137 kingvaclav
kingvaclav's picture

Some surprising unknown background on John Forbes Kerry:

http://winteractionables.com/?p=28999

 

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 12:11 | 6974156 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

Why do you hate Jews so much?

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 07:58 | 6973447 Last of the Mid...
Last of the Middle Class's picture

Lets give Iran billions when they sign this paper that has no legal use whatsoever. Go Horseface!

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 12:11 | 6974154 Obamamerica
Obamamerica's picture

Can the USSA survive what Obama did to us?

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!