IR-40
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IR-40 is an Iranian 40 megawatt (thermal) heavy water reactor under construction in Arak.[1] While the basic design was completed in 2002, the IAEA was informed on May 5th 2003 that construction would begin in June 2004. The reactor was originally going to be constructed at a location in Esfahan, though after the designs were completed, the Iranian leadership decided to build instead at its present location in Arak.[2] In August 2006, mixed reports came out about when the reactor would go into operation, one stating that the plant would start up in 2009, while another reported that operation would be postponed until 2011.[3] Some reports have even put the date for the commencement of operation as far back as 2013.[4]
In full operation, it is expected that the reactor will produce from 10 kilograms (22 lb) to 12 kilograms (26 lb) of plutonium a year within its spent nuclear fuel, enough for two nuclear weapons a year if the spent fuel was reprocessed. Iran is also constructing hot cells at the IR-40, which could be used for nuclear reprocessing. The IAEA has reported that it found no indication of ongoing reprocessing activities,[5] but also that Iran has denied access to the IR-40 for design information verification, despite the IAEA's right to conduct such verification.[6] Iran states that the reactor will only be used for R&D, medical and industrial isotope production.[3]
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[edit] History
Iran's leadership decided to begin designing IR-40 in the 1980s, amid concerns that their plans at uranium enrichment would fail. After Iran was unable to get a reactor from abroad, they allegedly received blueprints for a research reactor from Russia, which they used to domestically design the larger IR-40 reactor. The current Iranian reactor, TRR, is reaching the end of its safe operational period after being in use for over thirty-five years.[3]
[edit] Role in Iran's nuclear program
While Iran claims that IR-40 will be used solely for research and development, production of both short and long lived radioisotopes, and training; there are some proliferation concerns about the reactor's ability to produce enough plutonium for several nuclear weapons each year.[7][2] Several Western nations, including the United States, are concerned that Iran may use nuclear weapons against Israel or allow Islamic extremists to use their weapons.[8]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1835 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran GOV/2008/59, 19 November 2008.
- ^ a b Alexander (146)
- ^ a b c Alexander (147)
- ^ ISIS
- ^ GOV/2008/38, September 15, 2008, Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- ^ GOV/2008/59, November 19, 2008, Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1835 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran
- ^ NTI
- ^ Bruno, Greg (04 Sept. 2008), Iran's Nuclear Program, Council on Foreign Relations, http://www.cfr.org/publication/16811/#2, retrieved on 2009-01-06
[edit] References
- Boureston, Jack; Charles Mahaffey, Yana Feldman and Charles Ferguson (November 2003). "IRAN'S IR-40 REACTOR: A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT" (in English) (Web Page). Iran Watch. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranwatch.org%2Fprivateviews%2FFirst%2520Watch%2Fperspex-fwi-ir40reactor-1203.htm&date=2008-12-30. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
- Barnaby, Frank (February 2006). "Iran's Nuclear Activities" (in English) (PDF). Oxford Research Group. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranwatch.org%2Fprivateviews%2Forg%2Fperspex-org-barnaby-nuclear-activities-0206.pdf&date=2008-12-30. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
- "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran" (in English). IAEA. 2007-5-23. Archived from [www.isis-online.org/publications/iran/IAEAreport23May2007.pdf the original] on 2008-12-30. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.isisonline.org%2Fpublications%2Firan%2FIAEAreport23May2007.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
- Alexander, Yonah; Milton M Hoenig (2008). The New Iranian Leadership Ahmadinejad, Terrorism, Nuclear Ambition, and the Middle East. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 344. ISBN 0275996409. http://books.google.com/books?id=_ac30INKAu4C.
- "ISIS NuclearIran > Nuclear Sites > Facilities > Arak IR-40 Heavy Water Reactor". ISIS NuclearIran. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.isisnucleariran.org%2Fsites%2Ffacilities%2Farak-ir-40%2F&date=2008-12-30. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
- "NTI: Country Overviews: Iran: Nuclear Facilities" (in English). NTI. January 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nti.org%2Fe_research%2Fprofiles%2FIran%2F3119_3216.html&date=2008-12-30. Retrieved on 2008-12-30.
