a weapon of mass destruction whose explosive power derives from a nuclear reaction
While American and European officials believe Tehran is planning to build nuclear weapons, Iran’s leadership says that its goal in developing a nuclear program is to generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply it prefers to sell abroad
an area in a town that has been devastated by bombs
But the remarks also appeared to reflect growing concern in the Iranian hierarchy that Israel and possibly the United States might use the report as a justification to bomb sites in Iran suspected of harboring facilities for the development of nucl
a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil
Iran’s nuclear program is one of the most polarizing issues in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
an apparatus that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a suspension
The biggest single factor seems to have been a computer virus — the so-called Stuxnet worm — that is believed to have destroyed one-fifth of Iran’s nuclear centrifuges.
the front part of a guided missile or rocket or torpedo that carries the nuclear or explosive charge or the chemical or biological agents
Such missiles can be launched almost instantly, making them useful to Iran as a potential deterrent against pre-emptive attacks, and they are also better suited than older liquid-fuel designs for carrying warheads long distances.
the United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy
The long-awaited report, the harshest judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever issued in its decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, has rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel
The next day, dozens of Iranian protesters screaming “death to England!” stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran, tore down the British flag and ransacked the office in what appeared to be a pre-orchestrated event sanctioned by the Iranian a
an elementary particle with 0 charge and mass about equal to a proton; enters into the structure of the atomic nucleus
The documents in the hands of the agency raise questions about work on how to turn uranium into bomb fuel, how to cast conventional explosives in a shape that can trigger a nuclear blast, how to make detonators, generate neutrons to spur a chain re
fuel (such as uranium) that can be used in nuclear reactors as a source of electricity
In August 2011, intelligence officials said Iran was moving its most sensitive nuclear fuel production to a heavily defended underground military facility outside the holy city of Qum, where it was less vulnerable to attack from the air, and, the I
secret information about an enemy (or potential enemy)
In October, after months in which the debate over Iran’s program had been largely dormant, Mr. Obama began pressing United Nations nuclear inspectors to release classified intelligence information showing that Iran is designing and experimenting wi
a unit responsible for gathering and interpreting information about an enemy
The situation was muddied in December 2007 when American intelligence agencies issued a new National Intelligence Estimate that concluded that the weapons portion of the Iranian nuclear program remained on hold.
a heavy toxic silvery-white radioactive metallic element; occurs in many isotopes; used for nuclear fuels and nuclear weapons
After years of conflict between Iran and President George W. Bush, President Obama spent 2009 trying to engage Iran diplomatically, only to see Tehran back away from a tentative agreement to ship some uranium out of the country for enrichment.
the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb
New Push, New Questions On Feb. 18, 2010, the United Nations’ nuclear inspectors declared for the first time that they had extensive evidence of “past or current undisclosed activities” by Iran’s military to develop a nuclear warhead, an unusually
But it laid out the case that Iran had moved far beyond the blackboard to create computer models of nuclear explosions in 2008 and 2009, and conducted experiments on nuclear triggers.
the prevention of something increasing or spreading (especially the prevention of an increase in the number of countries possessing nuclear weapons)
Iran insisted that it was living up to its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but in 2002, an exile group obtained documents revealing a clandestine program.
make fine adjustments or divide into marked intervals for optimal measuring
But experts dissecting it soon determined that it had been precisely calibrated in a way that would send nuclear centrifuges wildly out of control, adding to suspicions that it was meant to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program.
the capital and largest city of Iran; located in northern Iran
While American and European officials believe Tehran is planning to build nuclear weapons, Iran’s leadership says that its goal in developing a nuclear program is to generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply it prefers to sell abroad
a city in northwestern Iran; a place of pilgrimage for Shiite Muslims
In August 2011, intelligence officials said Iran was moving its most sensitive nuclear fuel production to a heavily defended underground military facility outside the holy city of Qum, where it was less vulnerable to attack from the air, and, the I
a deliberate act of destruction or disruption in which equipment is damaged
The long-awaited report, the harshest judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever issued in its decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, has rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel about
a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
The next day, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that a deal had been struck with other major powers, including Russia and China, to impose new sanctions on Iran, a sharp repudiation of the agreement between Iran and Turkey.
The long-awaited report, the harshest judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever issued in its decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, has rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel about
The long-awaited report, the harshest judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever issued in its decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, has rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel
a series of chemical reactions in which the product of one is a reactant in the next
The documents in the hands of the agency raise questions about work on how to turn uranium into bomb fuel, how to cast conventional explosives in a shape that can trigger a nuclear blast, how to make detonators, generate neutrons to spur a chain reacti
Documentary evidence, it said, suggested that Iran had conducted “studies involving the removal of the conventional high explosive payload from the warhead of the Shahab-3 missile and replace it with a spherical nuclear payload.”
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added his voice to the country’s bellicose backlash, warning any potential military attackers that they would face a “strong slap and iron fist.”
On Nov. 8, 2011, United Nations weapons inspectors released a trove of new evidence that they say makes a “credible” case that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device” and that the project may still be under
Obama and Negotiations Mr. Obama first made waves with his views on Iran policy in 2007, when he said during a Democratic debate that he would, as president, be willing to meet without preconditions with Iran’s leaders, and that the notion of not t
A famous photograph of Dr. Khan, whom Pakistan has released from house arrest in Islamabad, shows him in front of the schematic diagram of an atom bomb on a blackboard.
one of two or more atoms with the same atomic number but with different numbers of neutrons
The head of Iran’s atomic energy agency spoke about the transfer in general terms and boasted that his country would produce the fuel in much larger quantities than it needed for a small research reactor in Tehran that produces medical isotopes.
act of making fuller or more meaningful or rewarding
After years of conflict between Iran and President George W. Bush, President Obama spent 2009 trying to engage Iran diplomatically, only to see Tehran back away from a tentative agreement to ship some uranium out of the country for enrichment.
United States prohibitionist who raided saloons and destroyed bottles of liquor with a hatchet (1846-1911)
On Nov. 8, 2011, United Nations weapons inspectors released a trove of new evidence that they say makes a “credible” case that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device” and that the project may still be under
43rd President of the United States; son of George Herbert Walker Bush (born in 1946)
After years of conflict between Iran and President George W. Bush, President Obama spent 2009 trying to engage Iran diplomatically, only to see Tehran back away from a tentative agreement to ship some uranium out of the country for enrichment.
a mechanical or electrical explosive device or a small amount of explosive; can be used to initiate the reaction of a disrupting explosive
The documents in the hands of the agency raise questions about work on how to turn uranium into bomb fuel, how to cast conventional explosives in a shape that can trigger a nuclear blast, how to make detonators, generate neutrons to spur a chain re
a weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled
Also in November, a huge explosion destroyed a major missile-testing site near Tehran, according to American and Israeli intelligence officials and missile technology experts.
But experts dissecting it soon determined that it had been precisely calibrated in a way that would send nuclear centrifuges wildly out of control, adding to suspicions that it was meant to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program.
The next day, dozens of Iranian protesters screaming “death to England!” stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran, tore down the British flag and ransacked the office in what appeared to be a pre-orchestrated event sanctioned by the Iranian a
(of color) discolored by impurities; not bright and clear
The situation was muddied in December 2007 when American intelligence agencies issued a new National Intelligence Estimate that concluded that the weapons portion of the Iranian nuclear program remained on hold.
The long-awaited report, the harshest judgment that the International Atomic Energy Agency has ever issued in its decade-long struggle to pierce the secrecy surrounding the Iranian program, has rekindled a debate among the Western allies and Israel
any compound obtained from petroleum or natural gas
In addition, the United States also imposed sanctions on companies involved in Iran’s nuclear industry, as well as on its petrochemical and oil industries, adding to existing measures that seek to weaken the Iranian government by depriving it of it
Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has the right to enrich uranium, but the atomic energy association called for the program to be halted until questions about the earlier, secret program were resolved.
a missile that is guided in the first part of its flight but falls freely as it approaches target
In November 2011, Israel tested what experts said was a long-range ballistic missile, firing it out to sea from an Air Force base just south of Tel Aviv.
treasure of unknown ownership found hidden (usually in the earth)
On Nov. 8, 2011, United Nations weapons inspectors released a trove of new evidence that they say makes a “credible” case that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device” and that the project may still be under
an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
On Nov. 8, 2011, United Nations weapons inspectors released a trove of new evidence that they say makes a “credible” case that “Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device” and that the project may still be under
a powerful chemical explosive that produces gas at a very high rate
Documentary evidence, it said, suggested that Iran had conducted “studies involving the removal of the conventional high explosive payload from the warhead of the Shahab-3 missile and replace it with a spherical nuclear payload.”
designed or having the power to deter or prevent an anticipated situation or occurrence
Such missiles can be launched almost instantly, making them useful to Iran as a potential deterrent against pre-emptive attacks, and they are also better suited than older liquid-fuel designs for carrying warheads long distances.
In January 2011, the retiring chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Meir Dagan, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton separately announced that they believed Iran’s efforts had been set back by several years.
a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, added his voice to the country’s bellicose backlash, warning any potential military attackers that they would face a “strong slap and iron fist.”
make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity
After years of conflict between Iran and President George W. Bush, President Obama spent 2009 trying to engage Iran diplomatically, only to see Tehran back away from a tentative agreement to ship some uranium out of the country for enrichment.
someone who participates in a public display of group feeling
The next day, dozens of Iranian protesters screaming “death to England!” stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran, tore down the British flag and ransacked the office in what appeared to be a pre-orchestrated event sanctioned by the Iranian a
a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons)
Iran insisted that it was living up to its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but in 2002, an exile group obtained documents revealing a clandestine program.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
While American and European officials believe Tehran is planning to build nuclear weapons, Iran’s leadership says that its goal in developing a nuclear program is to generate electricity without dipping into the oil supply it prefers to sell abroad
In the report, Yukia Amano, head of the agency, said the I.A.E.A. had amassed “over a thousand pages” of documents, presumably leaked out of Iran, showing “research, development and testing activities” on a range of technologies that would only be
a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)
A famous photograph of Dr. Khan, whom Pakistan has released from house arrest in Islamabad, shows him in front of the schematic diagram of an atom bomb on a blackboard.
a financial institution that accepts demand deposits and makes loans and provides other services for the public
On Nov. 22, the United States and other major Western powers took significant steps to cut Iran off from the international financial system,announcing coordinated sanctions aimed at its central bank and commercial banks.
a town in north central New Mexico; in 1942 it was chosen as a nuclear research site where the first atomic bombs were produced
Harold M. Agnew, a former director of the Los Alamos weapons laboratory, said the compression of uranium deuteride suggested work on an atomic trigger.
The next day, dozens of Iranian protesters screaming “death to England!” stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran, tore down the British flag and ransacked the office in what appeared to be a pre-orchestrated event sanctioned by the Iranian a
an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
But the remarks also appeared to reflect growing concern in the Iranian hierarchy that Israel and possibly the United States might use the report as a justification to bomb sites in Iran suspected of harboring facilities for the development of nucl
The report said it had asked Iran about evidence of “experiments involving the explosive compression of uranium deuteride to produce a short burst of neutrons” — the speeding particles that split atoms in two in a surge of nuclear energy.
But it laid out the case that Iran had moved far beyond the blackboard to create computer models of nuclear explosions in 2008 and 2009, and conducted experiments on nuclear triggers.
The White House denied Israel’s request to fly over Iraq to reach Iran’s major nuclear complex at Natanz, American officials said, and the Israelis backed off their plans, at least temporarily.
centrifuge
