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TFA states that the yakuza boss was acting as a middleman between an insurgent group in Myanmar and what he thought was an associate of an Iranian general. The

TFA states that the yakuza boss was acting as a middleman between an insurgent group in Myanmar and what he thought was an associate of an Iranian general. The group wanted to sell weapons-grade nuclear material and buy conventional military weapons. It could be related to Myanmar's rumored nuclear program: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar_and_weapons_of_mass_de... I find it interesting that they also wanted to offload meth and heroin into specifically the New York market. What's the connection between Iran and the drug trade?

CamperBob2 3y ago
If it came from Myanmar, things are going to get interesting over there before long. We can't allow this sort of thing. Even the North Koreans have the sense not to sell plutonium through back-alley deals.
- simonblack 3y ago
  I can't work out why the Iranians would buy stuff from Myanmar (or anywhere else) when they can make their own faster and cheaper. They have the raw materials, the equipment and the expertise. Also Pakistan is right next door.
  - cullenking 3y ago
    Traceability - supposedly it's possible to accurately determine the source based on the unique fingerprint in the material. Not sure if this applies to post-detonation in the case of a nuclear weapon. In theory, since very little of the material is actually fissioned? You wouldn't want the ire of the nuclear powers in the world, if you are Iran. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149197015300329 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01491...
  - jjk166 3y ago
    It takes a lot to produce weapons grade plutonium, you need to run a reactor for some time and do quite a bit of complicated and dangerous post processing. While it's not something with a traditional price tag, estimates are that weapons grade plutonium costs about $4000 per gram to produce in the US. Further, if anyone notices you starting up the reactor to do so, that could be a massive diplomatic problem - something you especially don't want when the middle east is currently in a highly tumultuous state. Presumably the Yakuza got access to the plutonium by illicit means that were substantially cheaper than producing it themselves, meaning they can sell it for what would otherwise be a loss and still make a nice profit. It's quite reasonable that if Iran wanted to say conduct some nuclear weapons research while appearing to comply with IAEA requirements that buying some plutonium off the black market would be the most economical option.
deleted 3y ago
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jjk166 3y ago
> I find it interesting that they also wanted to offload meth and heroin into specifically the New York market. What's the connection between Iran and the drug trade? This is starting to sound like a CIA budget balancing operation.

CamperBob2 3y ago

If it came from Myanmar, things are going to get interesting over there before long. We can't allow this sort of thing. Even the North Koreans have the sense not to sell plutonium through back-alley deals.

simonblack 3y ago
I can't work out why the Iranians would buy stuff from Myanmar (or anywhere else) when they can make their own faster and cheaper. They have the raw materials, the equipment and the expertise. Also Pakistan is right next door.
- cullenking 3y ago
  Traceability - supposedly it's possible to accurately determine the source based on the unique fingerprint in the material. Not sure if this applies to post-detonation in the case of a nuclear weapon. In theory, since very little of the material is actually fissioned? You wouldn't want the ire of the nuclear powers in the world, if you are Iran. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149197015300329 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01491...
- jjk166 3y ago
  It takes a lot to produce weapons grade plutonium, you need to run a reactor for some time and do quite a bit of complicated and dangerous post processing. While it's not something with a traditional price tag, estimates are that weapons grade plutonium costs about $4000 per gram to produce in the US. Further, if anyone notices you starting up the reactor to do so, that could be a massive diplomatic problem - something you especially don't want when the middle east is currently in a highly tumultuous state. Presumably the Yakuza got access to the plutonium by illicit means that were substantially cheaper than producing it themselves, meaning they can sell it for what would otherwise be a loss and still make a nice profit. It's quite reasonable that if Iran wanted to say conduct some nuclear weapons research while appearing to comply with IAEA requirements that buying some plutonium off the black market would be the most economical option.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

jjk166 3y ago

> I find it interesting that they also wanted to offload meth and heroin into specifically the New York market. What's the connection between Iran and the drug trade? This is starting to sound like a CIA budget balancing operation.