Iran Says It Will Allow Inspections

Uranium can be enriched at different levels. Low-enriched uranium can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants, but uranium must be very highly-enriched before it can be used to make a nuclear bomb. So what is Iran doing? Are they enriching uranium for fuel or for a bomb?

Iran claims it is just making nuclear fuel, while Israel is convinced Iran is making a nuclear bomb. Everyone else is suspicious because they were not told earlier about Iran's newest enrichment plant near Qom, which Iran announced earlier this week is ready to begin production.

Iran believes it has complied with the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by making public notification before the new plant became operational. But others say there was a Subsidiary Agreement that required notification during the planning stages. Regardless of who is right, the plant is now complete and ready to start operations.

Like most other people, I don't like the prospect of an Iran with nuclear weapons. However, I really don't see how tougher "sanctions" is going to prevent that. The only ray of hope I can see at the present time is that Iran is saying it will allow inspections under IAEA rules. I hope they are serious about this and allow full and complete inspections.

Secretary of State Clinton responded to the promise of inspections by saying, "It is always welcome when Iran makes a decision to comply with the international rules and regulations, and particularly with respect to the IAEA. We are very hopeful that, in preparing for the meeting on October 1, Iran comes and shares with all of us what they are willing to do and give us a timetable on which they are willing to proceed."

I agree with the Secretary of State. The best thing for all concerned would be for Iran to cooperate with the IAEA and allow complete inspections. We already have one rogue nation with nuclear weapons -- Pakistan. We certainly don't need another one.