Especially HEU that is UF6!
May 26, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Especially HEU that is UF6!
Imagine trying to explain the sublimation point of UF6 to Trump.
Guy doesn’t understand time zones. A solid turning into a gas would break his brain.
Guy doesn’t understand time zones. A solid turning into a gas would break his brain.
May 26, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Imagine trying to explain the sublimation point of UF6 to Trump.
Guy doesn’t understand time zones. A solid turning into a gas would break his brain.
Guy doesn’t understand time zones. A solid turning into a gas would break his brain.
Thanks to Andrew for the periodic reminder. Nice photo, but I think these are the heaters to provide UF6 to an enrichment facility. The storage container is the cylinder that can just be seen inside the first open heater.
But Andrew's point still stands. Nobody is going to backpack these out.
But Andrew's point still stands. Nobody is going to backpack these out.
To be clear about the actual, physical uranium that would need to be removed from Iran - it's not in tidy, safeish ingots. It's held as a super dangerous gas, probably stored in vessels like these, located way underground. Nobody is just taking it.
July 25, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Thanks to Andrew for the periodic reminder. Nice photo, but I think these are the heaters to provide UF6 to an enrichment facility. The storage container is the cylinder that can just be seen inside the first open heater.
But Andrew's point still stands. Nobody is going to backpack these out.
But Andrew's point still stands. Nobody is going to backpack these out.
Yuuuuuuuuupppppp. And not UF6. Tho beryllium.
March 24, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Yuuuuuuuuupppppp. And not UF6. Tho beryllium.
Isn't UF6 like, really, really poisonous in addition to being radioactive?
July 25, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Isn't UF6 like, really, really poisonous in addition to being radioactive?
Here's a DOE photo of a UF6 transport cylinder — document says this is for max 4.5% U-235. Smaller cylinders (also shown) are used to avoid criticality concerns for higher enrichment.
Doc also says that UF6 is a "colorless crystalline solid" at ambient temp/pressure, and is shipped as a solid.
Doc also says that UF6 is a "colorless crystalline solid" at ambient temp/pressure, and is shipped as a solid.
July 26, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Here's a DOE photo of a UF6 transport cylinder — document says this is for max 4.5% U-235. Smaller cylinders (also shown) are used to avoid criticality concerns for higher enrichment.
Doc also says that UF6 is a "colorless crystalline solid" at ambient temp/pressure, and is shipped as a solid.
Doc also says that UF6 is a "colorless crystalline solid" at ambient temp/pressure, and is shipped as a solid.
January 6, 2026 at 6:56 AM
The enriched uranium is in the form of UF6, contained in heavy metal gas cylinders. UF6 is kind of weird stuff and is probably a solid in those cylinders and a gas if the cylinders are opened. No dust involved.
2. "will be...immediately turned over to the United States"
2. "will be...immediately turned over to the United States"
May 26, 2026 at 11:13 PM
The enriched uranium is in the form of UF6, contained in heavy metal gas cylinders. UF6 is kind of weird stuff and is probably a solid in those cylinders and a gas if the cylinders are opened. No dust involved.
2. "will be...immediately turned over to the United States"
2. "will be...immediately turned over to the United States"
If indeed the UF6 is in those 10-tonne overpacks, a special ops team is not easily going to blow it up either. 5/4
March 29, 2026 at 10:53 PM
If indeed the UF6 is in those 10-tonne overpacks, a special ops team is not easily going to blow it up either. 5/4
These old experiments are relevant because Iran's process for producing U metal from UF6 involves producing UF4 first.
Now Iran knows what it's doing, it would probably take weeks/months--not years--to produce enough HEU metal for a bomb. (10/n)
Now Iran knows what it's doing, it would probably take weeks/months--not years--to produce enough HEU metal for a bomb. (10/n)
June 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
These old experiments are relevant because Iran's process for producing U metal from UF6 involves producing UF4 first.
Now Iran knows what it's doing, it would probably take weeks/months--not years--to produce enough HEU metal for a bomb. (10/n)
Now Iran knows what it's doing, it would probably take weeks/months--not years--to produce enough HEU metal for a bomb. (10/n)
inally, officials are WAY overstating the importance of destroying the UF6 -> U metal conversion line at Isfahan.
To produce tens of kg of U metal--enough for a few nuclear weapons--you need a chemistry lab, not an industrial-scale process line. (8/n)
To produce tens of kg of U metal--enough for a few nuclear weapons--you need a chemistry lab, not an industrial-scale process line. (8/n)
June 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
inally, officials are WAY overstating the importance of destroying the UF6 -> U metal conversion line at Isfahan.
To produce tens of kg of U metal--enough for a few nuclear weapons--you need a chemistry lab, not an industrial-scale process line. (8/n)
To produce tens of kg of U metal--enough for a few nuclear weapons--you need a chemistry lab, not an industrial-scale process line. (8/n)
To assess Iran's remaining nuclear capability, we need to know several things that aren't publicly known:
(1) Where is the HEU? Canisters broken and UF6 dispersed? In canisters that can be recovered (or not)? Or removed and hidden? 1/n
(1) Where is the HEU? Canisters broken and UF6 dispersed? In canisters that can be recovered (or not)? Or removed and hidden? 1/n
June 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
To assess Iran's remaining nuclear capability, we need to know several things that aren't publicly known:
(1) Where is the HEU? Canisters broken and UF6 dispersed? In canisters that can be recovered (or not)? Or removed and hidden? 1/n
(1) Where is the HEU? Canisters broken and UF6 dispersed? In canisters that can be recovered (or not)? Or removed and hidden? 1/n
UF6 fighting is a dangerous sport, often underestimated
September 1, 2024 at 5:58 PM
UF6 fighting is a dangerous sport, often underestimated
Paysan-luthier, il transforme les citrouilles en instruments de musique
Pour éviter l’usage de bois exotiques, ce luthier plante des courges qui serviront à fabriquer des instruments à cordes et à vent, dans le sillage d’une tradition occitane oubliée.
Lire l'article ➡️ https://l.reporterre.net/Uf6
Pour éviter l’usage de bois exotiques, ce luthier plante des courges qui serviront à fabriquer des instruments à cordes et à vent, dans le sillage d’une tradition occitane oubliée.
Lire l'article ➡️ https://l.reporterre.net/Uf6
April 13, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Paysan-luthier, il transforme les citrouilles en instruments de musique
Pour éviter l’usage de bois exotiques, ce luthier plante des courges qui serviront à fabriquer des instruments à cordes et à vent, dans le sillage d’une tradition occitane oubliée.
Lire l'article ➡️ https://l.reporterre.net/Uf6
Pour éviter l’usage de bois exotiques, ce luthier plante des courges qui serviront à fabriquer des instruments à cordes et à vent, dans le sillage d’une tradition occitane oubliée.
Lire l'article ➡️ https://l.reporterre.net/Uf6
To be clear about the actual, physical uranium that would need to be removed from Iran - it's not in tidy, safeish ingots. It's held as a super dangerous gas, probably stored in vessels like these, located way underground. Nobody is just taking it.
March 24, 2026 at 12:16 AM
To be clear about the actual, physical uranium that would need to be removed from Iran - it's not in tidy, safeish ingots. It's held as a super dangerous gas, probably stored in vessels like these, located way underground. Nobody is just taking it.
and that's assuming that since they cracked open fordow a lil bit that they can't distributed the yummy UF6 elsewhere
March 26, 2026 at 10:32 PM
and that's assuming that since they cracked open fordow a lil bit that they can't distributed the yummy UF6 elsewhere
he got a briefing on UF6 and this was the way they described what it was to him and its the only part he understood
April 17, 2026 at 2:09 PM
he got a briefing on UF6 and this was the way they described what it was to him and its the only part he understood
I did some work with UF6 a long time ago. I remember a small gas bottle, but not that it rattled.
Granular UF6 could account for Trump's and the analyst's characterizations.
Or I can think of at least two protest songs and movies that refer to radioactive dust.
Granular UF6 could account for Trump's and the analyst's characterizations.
Or I can think of at least two protest songs and movies that refer to radioactive dust.
March 23, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I did some work with UF6 a long time ago. I remember a small gas bottle, but not that it rattled.
Granular UF6 could account for Trump's and the analyst's characterizations.
Or I can think of at least two protest songs and movies that refer to radioactive dust.
Granular UF6 could account for Trump's and the analyst's characterizations.
Or I can think of at least two protest songs and movies that refer to radioactive dust.
6. It will be interesting to see what the agreement says about the enriched uranium. CNN reported today that Iran has been fortifying some of their tunnels, presumably where that uranium is.
7. "Downblend and destroy." Downblending requires a facility that can handle UF6.
7. "Downblend and destroy." Downblending requires a facility that can handle UF6.
June 13, 2026 at 11:04 PM
6. It will be interesting to see what the agreement says about the enriched uranium. CNN reported today that Iran has been fortifying some of their tunnels, presumably where that uranium is.
7. "Downblend and destroy." Downblending requires a facility that can handle UF6.
7. "Downblend and destroy." Downblending requires a facility that can handle UF6.
UF6 sounds like something that would be unhappy seeing moisture.
March 24, 2026 at 12:27 AM
UF6 sounds like something that would be unhappy seeing moisture.
The IAEA says that Iran's enriched uranium is in the form of UF6. We are told that UF6 is a gas. But UF6 is weird stuff.
It's a solid at room temperature, but it sublimes. That means it becomes a gas easily. It is stored in gas bottles.
(Bottles being metal cylinders.)
It's a solid at room temperature, but it sublimes. That means it becomes a gas easily. It is stored in gas bottles.
(Bottles being metal cylinders.)
March 23, 2026 at 2:53 PM
The IAEA says that Iran's enriched uranium is in the form of UF6. We are told that UF6 is a gas. But UF6 is weird stuff.
It's a solid at room temperature, but it sublimes. That means it becomes a gas easily. It is stored in gas bottles.
(Bottles being metal cylinders.)
It's a solid at room temperature, but it sublimes. That means it becomes a gas easily. It is stored in gas bottles.
(Bottles being metal cylinders.)
Diaz-Maurin presents a number of possibilities. One of the overpacks itself weighs 10 tonnes or more.
If the UF6 is indeed in overpacks, the concerns about criticality accidents go away. The overpacks would be designed to prevent criticality. 3/
If the UF6 is indeed in overpacks, the concerns about criticality accidents go away. The overpacks would be designed to prevent criticality. 3/
March 29, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Diaz-Maurin presents a number of possibilities. One of the overpacks itself weighs 10 tonnes or more.
If the UF6 is indeed in overpacks, the concerns about criticality accidents go away. The overpacks would be designed to prevent criticality. 3/
If the UF6 is indeed in overpacks, the concerns about criticality accidents go away. The overpacks would be designed to prevent criticality. 3/