Sources Say Iran Running Out of Uranium

January 24, 2009

 United Press International

Iran could run out of yellowcake uranium within the next few
months, forcing it to seek the nuclear fuel source elsewhere, sources
say.Unidentified diplomatic sources said with Iran running low on the
uranium ore byproduct, countries such as Britain and the United States
are taking steps to prevent the Middle East nation from obtaining more
from major uranium producers, The Times of London reported Saturday.

Diplomats in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Brazil have already
received letters from Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office
requesting that uranium-producing countries not to sell any to Iran.

Iran's depleting cache of yellowcake uranium was purchased from
South Africa in the 1970s, The Times reported.

Uranium is a key component in the manufacturing of nuclear
weapons, as well as for civilian electrical power production.

The Times said Iran has been struggling to produce enough uranium
ore from its own mines to support its nuclear program.