The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Iran remains challenged by difficulties in enriching uranium in significant quantities. In a report entitled "Military Balance" released on Wednesday, the institute cited the operation of cascades of gas centrifuges to convert uranium hexafluoride, or UF6, into enriched uranium.
LONDON [MENL] -- Iran continues to struggle with its nuclear weapons project, a report said.
The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Iran remains challenged by difficulties in enriching uranium in significant quantities. In a report entitled "Military Balance" released on Wednesday, the institute cited the operation of cascades of gas centrifuges to convert uranium hexafluoride, or UF6, into enriched uranium.
"The main bottleneck to producing such weapons remains learning how to run UF6 through the cascades for extended periods," IISS director-general John Chipman said. "If Iran overcomes the technical hurdles, the possibility of military options to stop the program will of course increase."
On Jan. 29, French President Jacques Chirac dismissed an Iranian nuclear weapon, saying Israeli retaliation could destroy Teheran. Chirac, who later tried to retract the recorded remarks, said one or two Iranian nuclear bombs would not help Teheran, and that Israel could immediately destroy the Iranian capital.
