Iran can produce four atom bombs: Israel

Israel Herald (IANS) Thursday 2nd February, 2012

Iran has four tonnes of 20 percent enriched uranium, sufficient to prepare four crude nuclear bombs in a year, said Israeli Military's intelligence head Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi Thursday.

"Iran is vigorously pursing military nuclear capabilities and today the intelligence community agrees with Israel on that," he said.

"Iran has over four tonnes of enriched materials and nearly 100 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium that's enough for four bombs. It [nuclear bomb] will be done... within one year," he added.

Kochavi, speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, also said that while Iran states its nuclear programme is peaceful, Israel has "conclusive evidence that they are after nuclear weapons."

The Iranian nuclear program, which has begun enriching uranium to 20 percent from which it can be further enriched into fissile warhead material, stems from several motives, including regional hegemony and deterrence, he said.

Iran has announced to have launched a nuclear enrichment program at a well-protected underground facility near the holy Shia city of Qom.

On Jan 23, the EU voted to ban oil imports from Iran. The embargo is set to come into force in July.

The Islamic Republic responded by introducing an export ban on crude oil shipments to Europe, and also threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, the main export route for oil supplies from the Middle East.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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