this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2025
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[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Was Iran actually producing nuclear weapons?

[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Iran has multiple enrichment sites, with a reported 83.7% pure U-235. Such purity is only needed for one thing, and it isn't nuclear power plants which typically only need 3%-5% U-235.

[–] BussyCat@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Haleu fuel is pretty common that’s enriched up to about 20%. Highly enriched fuel is still used for nuclear power on aircraft carriers that use 93% enriched U235.

Iran is definitely just trying to make weapons but wanted to at least give some examples of higher enriched fuels

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Being that we know Iran sells weapons to Russia, I wonder where it would be cheaper to produce weapons. Would it be cheaper for Russia to pay to have certain things created elsewhere or in Russia. We know a lot of Russia's weapons in the past were built in what now is Ukraine. Examples would be their Aircraft Carriers, destroyers, etc. Hell one of their main Aircraft Carriers was named Kiev

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Every credible comment I've read says they're in the process of developing them, the only group who says otherwise is Iran themselves.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org -1 points 1 day ago (2 children)

They havent been in the process of developing them. They have been enriching Uranium to the level needed for developing a nuclear weapon.

Iran has always been "close" to develop nuclear weapons over the past years, to ensure that it can do so to defend itself in the case of an attack. Now with Israels unprecedented attack, it is more likely that Iran sees the need to actually develop a nuke to protect its existence.

Israel knows this and keeps pushing to quickly get the US involved beyond a point of no return and fight the war against Iran for them.

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They have been enriching Uranium to the level needed for developing a nuclear weapon.

Isn't that part of the process though?

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It is a prerequirement.

If you produce thick steel sheets, that is a requirement to build tanks, but it doesnt mean you are building tanks.

Now if you start welding those sheets together in a tank shape, while making all the other stuff that you find in a tank, now you are building a tank.

So if Iran starts building specific parts for nukes and processing the enriched Uranium in a way that is suitable for making a warhead, that would be building a nuke.

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So if Iran starts building specific parts for nukes and processing the enriched Uranium in a way that is suitable for making a warhead, that would be building a nuke.

Which is precisely what they're doing, unless you actually believe they want that level of enrichment for a power plant.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

No matter how many tires you are stockpiling, you aren't manufacturing a car, unless you actually manufacture a car.

[–] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

By that line of reasoning, they could have all the components of a nuke, and not actually be manufacturing one until they bolt it together.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 1 points 14 hours ago

When they have all the components manufactured and the enriched Uranium in "nuke shape" then y would also say they are developing one.

But while nukes arent that complicated to build in principle, there still goes quite some trial and design efforts into it.

This most likely includes doing tests with causing a nuclear explosion. Such tests would be detectable and a certain criterium for an ongoing development.

Remember how NKs nuclear weapon propgram got a lot of attention some 10 or so years ago? We knew because the seismographs picked up the shockwaves of underground explosions.

[–] torrentialgrain@lemm.ee 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Israels attack follows a report from the IEAE stating that Iran has likely started the race to a bomb. They (Iran) have also recently expelled UN oversight from their enrichment sites.

I’m not defending Israel but what does that look like to you? Sure seems like for some people their hatred for Israel is clouding their objective judgement.

[–] BrainInABox@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Israels attack follows a report from the IEAE

And that report follows a document leak showing the IEAE actively passing on confidential reports from Iran directly to Israel.

From all available intelligence, no. They clearly have a nuclear weapons program (which are insanely huge to begin with) but there has never been a measured test, and no evidence of enriched uranium at a high enough purity to be weaponized.

It's insanely hard work to created weaponized enriched uranium. With the sanctions Iran has had for decades it would be next to impossible for them to get all the stuff they need to create it on their own.