Iran’s Nuclear Program
Iran is on their way to enriching uranium and making a nuclear weapon capable of hitting America.
Making A Nuclear Weapon
Enriching and stockpiling uranium is widely seen as the biggest hurdle to nuclear weapons. And Iran is already there.
1. Build out a nuclear research and development program
Iran has built out the needed infrastructure for nuclear development and partial designs for a nuclear warhead.[48]
2. Low-grade uranium ore is mined and chemically treated before being fed into centrifuges.
Iran is the world’s 12th largest miner of Uranium.[49]
3. Centrifuges enrich uranium in a sophisticated cascading process.
Iran has around 20,000 basic – IR-1s and IR2ms –centrifuges.[50]
4. Uranium is enriched to 5% purity.
Iran has a stockpile 12 times the total permitted under the JCPOA of uranium around 5%[51]
5. Uranium is enriched from 20% to 90% for weapons-grade use.
In June 2021, the IAEA discovered Iran was enriching Uranium to 63% levels.[52]
6. The weapons-grade uranium must be deployed into a missile with a fission reaction to detonate.
Iran has tested regional ballistic missiles and is currently developing an intercontinental missile.
Iran has gained years of experience operating nuclear-level advanced centrifuges in violation of the old deal. “The Iranian program has grown, become more sophisticated,” reports Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Firing A Nuclear Weapon
Iran has tested numerous regional ballistic missiles that are believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear payload. They are currently developing an intercontinental capable of hitting New York City with a nuclear weapon.
| Name | Range | Payload | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr-3 | 2,000 km | 800 kg | Operational |
| Shahab-2 | 2,000 km | 1,200 kg | Operational |
| Shahab-3 | 2,100 km | 990 kg | Operational |
| Shahab-4 | 2,000 km | 2,000 kg | Under Development |
| Sejil-1 | 1,930 km | Unknown | Operational |
| Sejil-2 | 2,000 km | Unknown | Operational |
| Khorramshahr | 2,000 km | 1,800 kg | Testing |
When fully operational, Iran’s strongest missile has the capacity to kill 66,270 Americans, injure 213,750, and cover lower Manhattan with radioactive fallout when detonated in New York City.[53]
Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons capable of hitting the United States.
They must be stopped.
Last Updated: June 22, 2021
2,968 kg [31]
Uranium Stockpiled as of last reported
474 [32]
Days away from nuclear weapons
3 [30]
Nuclear Weapons currently in development
Nuclear Weapon Progress
Nuclear Weapons Achieved
Deployed onto a missile with fission reaction to detonate
90% enrichment to reach weapons-grade uranium
Low level uranium enrichment
