How are there people still seeing Iran as being like this? They neither wanted a nuclear weapon nor did they try and intimidate anyone about it, they did literally everything in their power to prove they are NOT trying to be a hostile or intimidating force; Israel believed they saw weakness and pounced

This is literally:

Iran: Bans themselves from developing such weapons

Israel: Oh my God they're trying to make a nuclear weapon!

Iran:

Israel: They're just weeks away from it!

Iran:

Israel years later: Any day now!

Iran:

Israel decades later: Any day now!

[–] Wheaties@hexbear.net 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, yeah, Israel and the United States have been blowing this out of proportion for the whole of the 21st century (and before, too).

But this article isn't wrong either. Energy-grade uranium only needs something like 30% enrichment (if I recall correctly). You need 90% for a bomb. The higher the percentage, the more energy and work intensive the process becomes. Iran has been enriching to something like 60, 70% and they've been doing so for... uh at least a few decades? And there really isn't a reason to do that outside of creating diplomatic pressure. So; trying to have the benefits of a bomb, without actually having a bomb.

[–] Wakmrow@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago

I've been somewhat trying to read on this today and it seems like 5-20% is what you'd need maximally for a civilian reactor. And that bombs can be made with pretty low enriched uranium levels with 90% being the sort of consensus for modern weapons.