In perhaps its most brazen snubbing of the west to date, the Islamic Republic of Iran ratcheted up its enrichment of uranium to 20%.

Uranium enriched at the 3.5% level — the current enrichment level in Iran — can fuel nuclear plants. Iran claims it needs 20% enriched uranium for its nuclear research reactor, but that’s unlikely to be the country’s goal. Rather, Iran is widely believed to be pursuing a nuclear weapon.

The ratcheting-up process was begun at the Natanz facility. IAEA nuclear inspectors, employed by the United Nations, were present at the time. Such an open defiance doesn’t help defeat the western perspective on Iran’s end goal.

Why should the west be concerned? After all, you need 90% enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. Well, it takes about a year to reach 20%, but only an additional 6 months to reach 90%. Iran may well have weapons-grade uranium within 18 months.

Which would put the announcement of nuclear status somewhere around August 2011. Mark your calenders, ladies and genltemen.