Nuclear Proliferation

With Iran refusing to budge from its production of 20% enriched uranium, which it insists is solely to generate civilian nuclear power, efforts have been building within Washington to devise a road-map for action – including military options – should Iran get closer to nuclear capability.

At a Senate hearing last week, Pentagon officials said Iran could have sufficient bomb-grade fuel – normally about 90% enriched uranium – for one nuclear weapon within a year, although it might take up to five years actually to create a bomb.

Iran has also stepped up the rhetoric. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today boasted about the country's army. "Today, our armed forces have so much power that no enemy will harbor evil thoughts about laying its hands on Iranian territory," he said at an annual army parade.

What are the dangers of Iran becoming a nuclear power and what options does the United States have to prevent it?