Nuclear machinery found in Iran
USA Today ^ | February 19, 2004 | Barbara Slavin and John Diamond
Posted on 02/18/2004 11:03:41 PM PST by HAL9000
United Nations inspectors have found sophisticated uranium-enrichment machinery at an air force base outside Iran's capital, Tehran, U.S. and foreign sources with knowledge of the discovery say.
The find at Doshen-Tappen air base appears to undermine Iran's claim it is not pursuing a nuclear bomb. The discovery may strengthen calls for action by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog.
The IAEA would not comment Wednesday, nor would the Bush administration. However, a source with knowledge of the find at the base said the Iranians had constructed and tested a gas-centrifuge system there. Such a system is used to refine uranium for nuclear reactors or bombs. There was no indication any uranium had been inserted or enriched.
Iran has long been suspected of seeking nuclear bombs and is building a reactor with the help of Russia. The United States has questioned why Iran needs nuclear power, since it has the world's fifth-largest oil reserves.
Under pressure last year to disclose its intentions, Iran agreed in a deal with France, Germany and Britain to suspend efforts to enrich uranium and to let inspectors into the country to prove it is not trying to build bombs.
Last week, U.N. inspectors looking through Iranian nuclear documents found drawings of a so-called P-2 gas centrifuge, twice as productive as a model Iran has acknowledged using to enrich uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Tuesday admitted Iran is doing research on the P-2, but for peaceful purposes.
Two U.S. sources briefed on the IAEA discovery said the Iranians admitted that they also possessed the actual machinery and tested it. The discovery appears to indicate that Iran is moving ahead with a nuclear-bomb program.
Before the latest revelations, U.S. intelligence believed Iran was 10 years from a nuclear weapon.
"The question is, did the Iranians actually give us the Full Monty or are they just doing a striptease?" asks Patrick Clawson, deputy director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Three sources with knowledge of the latest find say it will be mentioned in an IAEA report to be sent to the 35 governments on the organization's board this weekend.
One expert said Iran should be encouraged to keep cooperating with the IAEA and not be subjected to U.N. penalties.
"You want the Iranians to reveal more, and we know there is more to reveal," says David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.
Pressure on Iran has increased since Libya decided last year to reveal its nuclear activities and Pakistan admitted that its top nuclear scientist sold nuclear know-how to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
USA Today ^ | February 19, 2004 | Barbara Slavin and John Diamond
Posted on 02/18/2004 11:03:41 PM PST by HAL9000
United Nations inspectors have found sophisticated uranium-enrichment machinery at an air force base outside Iran's capital, Tehran, U.S. and foreign sources with knowledge of the discovery say.
The find at Doshen-Tappen air base appears to undermine Iran's claim it is not pursuing a nuclear bomb. The discovery may strengthen calls for action by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog.
The IAEA would not comment Wednesday, nor would the Bush administration. However, a source with knowledge of the find at the base said the Iranians had constructed and tested a gas-centrifuge system there. Such a system is used to refine uranium for nuclear reactors or bombs. There was no indication any uranium had been inserted or enriched.
Iran has long been suspected of seeking nuclear bombs and is building a reactor with the help of Russia. The United States has questioned why Iran needs nuclear power, since it has the world's fifth-largest oil reserves.
Under pressure last year to disclose its intentions, Iran agreed in a deal with France, Germany and Britain to suspend efforts to enrich uranium and to let inspectors into the country to prove it is not trying to build bombs.
Last week, U.N. inspectors looking through Iranian nuclear documents found drawings of a so-called P-2 gas centrifuge, twice as productive as a model Iran has acknowledged using to enrich uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Tuesday admitted Iran is doing research on the P-2, but for peaceful purposes.
Two U.S. sources briefed on the IAEA discovery said the Iranians admitted that they also possessed the actual machinery and tested it. The discovery appears to indicate that Iran is moving ahead with a nuclear-bomb program.
Before the latest revelations, U.S. intelligence believed Iran was 10 years from a nuclear weapon.
"The question is, did the Iranians actually give us the Full Monty or are they just doing a striptease?" asks Patrick Clawson, deputy director of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Three sources with knowledge of the latest find say it will be mentioned in an IAEA report to be sent to the 35 governments on the organization's board this weekend.
One expert said Iran should be encouraged to keep cooperating with the IAEA and not be subjected to U.N. penalties.
"You want the Iranians to reveal more, and we know there is more to reveal," says David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.
Pressure on Iran has increased since Libya decided last year to reveal its nuclear activities and Pakistan admitted that its top nuclear scientist sold nuclear know-how to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
