Source: McKenzie Intelligence Services. The New York Times
New York Times: Plutonium Is Unsung Concession in Iran Nuclear Deal
At first glance, the metals that give atom bombs their destructive fury might seem interchangeable: Uranium and plutonium are both more valuable than gold. Both captivate would-be atomic powers. And both fueled bombs that leveled Japanese cities — uranium at Hiroshima and plutonium at Nagasaki.
But to see them as equal is to ignore a crucial difference: Of the 15,000 or so nuclear warheads on the planet, atomic experts say, more than 95 percent rely on plutonium to ignite their firestorms.
As a fuel for weapons, plutonium packs a far greater punch than uranium, and in bulk can be easier and cheaper to produce. Which is why some nuclear experts voice incomprehension at what they see as a lopsided focus on uranium in evaluations of the deal reached with Iran — under which Tehran would forsake the production of plutonium.
WNU Editor: It was definitely a concession .... but I suspect that if the nuclear deal does fall apart .... it would not take long for Iran to ramp up production of nuclear materials .... plutonium included.
Posts
