Iran’s Nuclear Program Should Send Oil to New Highs

The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced yesterday that Iran has begun installing 6,000 new centrifuges at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant. The new centrifuges will be added to the 3,000 that are currently operating in Natanz.

What is unclear at the moment is whether or not the new centrifuges are the P-1 models, which are currently being used, or the newer IR-2 models. The IR-2 models are more than twice as productive as the P-1 models currently in use. In a follow-up statement made on Tuesday the Iranian president referred to the centrifuges as “advanced,” lending to the idea that perhaps the centrifuges are in fact the newer IR-2 models.

Iran continues to test its boundaries despite increased sanctions and warnings. A nuclear enrichment program that can be used for full-scale industrialized uranium enrichment is commonly thought to require 3,000 centrifuges. With 9,000 centrifuges Iran is certainly capable of producing enough enriched uranium to build nuclear weapons. Iran does not however plan to stop there as current plans reportedly aim at developing a large-scale program with a total of 54,000 centrifuges.

With tensions in the Middle East seemingly on the rise a nuclear capable Iran does not paint a nice picture for the future. The longer that Iran defies international nuclear regulations without incurring any “hard-line discipline,” the more time Iran has to advance their nuclear program, which seems to increase the chances for “big problems” in the Middle East. Developments in the Middle East, along with reported developments in the Iranian nuclear program over the next year are likely to take crude oil through its next series of all-time highs.

Comments

[User 175594:]

Should we just get over the fact that Iran is building nuclear weapons and move on?

Perhaps, folks should worry due to Iran's vocal president, but, then, most of its neighbors have nuclear arms. Also, its been awhile that Iran has actually invaded or occupied other countries.

2008 Apr 09 11:24 AM

[user 2lakes:]

To user 175594, I agree. Isn't it logical to think that Iran understands that if they ever use these weapons or give them to someone who does that they will pay the ultimate price? It seems to me we have enough nukes aboard one sub patroling the Indian ocean to turn Iran into a glass factory for all time. That is the facts/bluff they must/should understand. Right?

2008 Apr 09 12:53 PM

[sultanroc:]

Within 6 weeks you will see what Israel will do to Iran. The US has given a record defense budget to the country, 33 billion dollars worth. History will repeat itself, when Israel took out Iraq's nuclear program in the early 80's. With the US military in the region, Israel will be protected this time around from Syria and others. Watch for the media to start hyping the Iran Nukes propoganda on dailt basis until Israel strikes. Oil will spike to historic records, but fortunately that will be short lived. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come!

2008 Apr 09 01:18 PM

[User 175682:]

The sad part is, you can reason with religon. I'm not saying muslums are all bad. That would be like saying that all christians are bad because the started the crusaides!
No, it all stems back to the sickos who hide BEHIND religion and have the ear of those that are not smart enough to make a decision for themself.
Does Iran (or the powers that be) understand the conciquences to owning/using nukes? I believe they do BUT believe that their will is that of God and that trumps all other cards!

2008 Apr 09 01:22 PM

[MattGigEm:]

2lakes: The hijackers of Sept 11th paid the ultimate price but they didn't seem to care. The deterrent of mutually assured destruction only works if both parties are sane. All it takes is for the extremist with his finger on the button to think it is worth the price. Love is a powerful thing but so is hate.

2008 Apr 09 04:33 PM

[maher:]

The central World Headquarters of Islamist-Fascism is within the Iranian murderous Regime. Decapitate it, and the rest of its many arms, Hamas, Hezbollah, Ghods Force in Iraq, Syrian lackey regime, Iran-supported wing of Al-Qaeda (altho Sunni, but Shhite Iran works with them against the common enemy: USA) will shrivel and dry out a natural death.

Enough is enough. Iranina regime must be 'terminated', Iranian people are great, intelligent people and deserve much better.

The sooner oil spikes (up to $175?) during Judgment Days for Iranian regime, the sooner it will come crashing down afterwards.

Let's Roll.

2008 Apr 10 03:20 AM