5000 Centrifuges

Iran announced today that it now has 5000 centrifuges up and working.

For Iran to build a first-generation implosion bomb it will need 17.6 kg of U-235, according to the SWU calculator published by URENCO, a European uranium enrichment consortium: web.archive.org/web/20021226100607/www.urenco.de/trennarbeit/swucal_e.html.

Assuming 16.2 kg of U-235 on hand in early November 2008, a requirement of 17.6 kg for a first bomb, and a production rate of 1.8 kg of U-235 each month, Iran would have needed about three weeks from November 7 (early December 2008). These are based on numbers derived on the assumption that Iran had 4000 centrifuges up and running.

Iran might be sitting on enough U-235 right now.