Most Americans are grossly ignorant of what is taking place, and most could not find Iran on a map of the Middle East.

http://revolutionaryflowerpot.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-movement.html

Iran as of today is making its own isotopes with the supply of reactor fuel it got in 1993 from Argentina which is projected to run out this year. I don’t think Iran is buying isotopes on the world market today.

There is an assumed link between a US plan to supply Iran with isotopes and Iran ceasing operation of the TRR and stopping efforts to enrich uranium to 20% because if there was not, it would not be a “plan”, it would just be a cash-price. What I mean is that sure, Iran is willing to pay cash to buy isotopes while it progresses toward making its own TRR fuel, but that option has all of the downsides of the status quo for the US as it relieves pressure the US may hope to exert by holding Iranian patients hostage.

The United States does not have to say it expects Iran to shut its efforts to make its own TRR fuel in exchange for the isotopes because otherwise the US would not be making the offer. But if the US is making the offer, I’m sure Iran will take it.

As to why Iran would continue working towards either getting TRR fuel so that it can make its own isotopes or making its own TRR fuel, that is substantially more reliable than foreign supplies, even if there was not a global shortage. Iran would get a 5 year supply according to ArmsControlWonk for its 1200 kgs of LEU, Kuperman, in his bomb Iran New York Times editorial said it would be a thirty year supply. ArmsControlWonk is nearly certainly right, but in five years Iran may well have its own domestic supply and never be reliant on foreign isotopes again.

Iran could not get a five year supply of isotopes, and so would be forced to repeatedly give its suppliers a means to pressure the country if it was to give up domestic isotope supply efforts. Giving the US a means to pressure the country means putting the US in a position where it is better placed to continue efforts to prevent all Iranian enrichment as is its goal today.

What westerners think about Iran’s program and how convincing westerners find Iran’s isotope arguments are very unimportant. Iran is not being attacked because Iran would harm the US in response to an attack. That is the only reason the US has not attacked yet and will not for the foreseeable future.

“I think a better question to ask is why the US prevents the sale of the reactor rods for the TRR.”

Few doubt that the US will try to delay sales as long as possible. But even the US must recognize it cannot block Iran forever from obtaining fuel for the TRR. At some point, after all, Iran would get to play its “800,000 suffering patients” ace-in-the-hole.

So Iran needs only to ensure that it does not get compromised by the delay. I think the best way to accomplish that is to do exactly what it’s doing – enrich uranium to 20% and figure out how to make fuel plates – with just one added wrinkle: Offer to swap or sell its 20% uranium if and when Iran is actually permitted to buy fuel plates for the TRR (or to obtain them in some swap).

That sweetener would provide Iran just the answer it needs to my tough question posed earlier (“Why are you making it when you can just buy it?”):

“We’re making it because we haven’t actually been permitted to buy it yet, despite all the earnest assurances that we’ll be allowed to, and goodness knows we’ve tried. Let us know if and when that changes. We’ll have our checkbook ready, and we’ll also be happy to swap whatever 20% uranium we’ve got on hand when you call. In the meantime, we sure are learning a lot about how to refine uranium and make fuel plates!”

The next step will be a staged “terrorist attack,” a “false flag” operation as per Operation Northwoods, for which Iran will be blamed. As Iran and its leadership have already been demonized, the “false flag” attack will suffice to obtain U.S. and European public support for bombing Iran. The bombing will include more than the nuclear facilities and will continue until the Iranians agree to regime change and the installation of a puppet government. The corrupt American media will present the new puppet as “freedom and democracy.”

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25024.htm

If the past is a guide, Americans will fall for the deception.

- Cyrus

And anyway, why shouldn’t Iran make its own isotopes? Did you read the Forden excerpt I posted below?

Finian Cunningham:
“In this context of a major realignment in the world’s energy economy – one where there will be a continuing diminished role for the US – Washington’s blustering rhetoric about democracy and peace and war on terror or alleged Iranian nuclear weapons can be seen as a desperate attempt to conceal its fear that it stands to be a big loser. Encircling Iran with wars and threatening gas supplies to possibly the world’s top future gas customer – China – is the real deal. US actions are more accurately seen as putting a knife to the energy arteries of a world economy that it will no longer be able to dominate.”
Read More here:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=18176

“Eric Brill cautions that Sahimi is not to be trusted…”

I didn’t intend to impugn Dr. Sahimi’s integrity, which I have no reason to doubt. I just don’t think what he has to say is worth much attention. I should add I’ve had a few email exchanges with him regarding the 2009 election, so my impression is based not only on what he’s published. Perhaps I shouldn’t judge him on emails – we’d all probably suffer if others judged us by our emails.