Iran’s Quest to Possess Nuclear Technology

The Washington Post has provided a timeline of Iran’s efforts to possess nuclear technology. Iran has recently announced that it has begun enriching uranium as part of a major expansion of its nuclear program, drawing U.N. sanctions and condemnation from the West. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran is now capable of enriching nuclear fuel “on an industrial scale.” In light of accusations from the west that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, Ahmadinejad said recently that “foreign nations were determined to dominate the region, which shouldn’t be allowed.” Six world powers have since demanded that Iran allow international inspectors to visit military installations where explosive tests aimed at developing atomic bombs are believed to have taken place.