It is like clockwork: every year, the IAEA releases a report about the state of Iran's nuclear program, and particularly about the progress of Iran's centrifuges. And every year, the pundits claim that Iran's centrifuge program has "stalled" or "stagnated" or "falling behind schedule" -- and then they promote all sorts of speculation about the supposedly stalled centrifuge program. It happened in 2008, and it happened in 2007.
WHy is this? I suspect that these reports about how Iran's nuclear program is "stagnating" or "stalled" are intended to undercut the argument that "SInce Iran is progressing in its nuclear program, it unrealistic to demand that they stop enrichment." By suggesting that Iran's nuclear program is failing or falling behind, the opponents to engagement with Iran can instead argue that it is too early to engage and accept Iran as a nuclear country.
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