Iran to open second uranium enrichment plant

New York Times : Iran has announced that it is about to start production at its second major uranium enrichment site, writes David Sanger for the New York Times. Iran maintains that it is not seeking to produce weapons but to find an alternative energy source to oil. Whether or not that is true, the plant’s opening does not significantly affect estimates of how long it could take Iran to produce a nuclear weapon. The country has already produced enough fuel to manufacture about four weapons, but only if the fuel goes through further enrichment, which would take at least six months to a year, say nuclear experts. “Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that’s what concerns us,” said US Defense secretary Leon Panetta.