Can Iran produce 20 percent-enriched uranium?
Yes. Though Iran may encounter some challenges, it is technically equipped to produce 19.75 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (note, any uranium enriched to under 20 percent U-235 is classified by the IAEA as LEU; uranium enriched to 20 percent or greater is classified as high enriched uranium (HEU). Iran has not stated how it intends to produce this enriched uranium at Natanz. A likely scenario would involve dedicating an existing module for the production of the 19.75 percent LEU with some modification at feed and withdrawal points to handle smaller canisters of material. It is worth noting that approximately half of Iran’s 8,000 installed centrifuges are not currently operating and could be dedicated to this effort. In operating its cascades to produce the 19.75 percent LEU, Iran would have to take special care to prevent the concentration of impurities including air, water vapor, and volatile gases which can build as the enrichment level goes higher. Iran
