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IAEA: Iran remains secretive about nuclear goals
May 27, 2008
Jonathan S. Landay - McClatchy NewspapersIssue date: 5/22/08 Section: Real News
WASHINGTON _ Iran is believed to be withholding information on alleged studies it conducted as part of a secret nuclear warhead development project, a new U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency report said Monday.
The new report also indicated that Iran has become significantly more proficient at enriching uranium, in defiance of U.N. Security Council demands that it suspend its enrichment program, doubling its production and apparently conquering previous technical problems with its enrichment equipment.
Taken together, the conclusions suggest that Iran has made few steps to quiet international anxiety over its nuclear program.
"The alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosives testing and missile re-entry vehicle project remain a matter of serious concern," said the confidential report, a copy of which was obtained by McClatchy. "Clarification of this is critical to an assessment of Iran's past and present nuclear program."
The Bush administration, which has recently stepped up charges that Iran is sowing instability across the Middle East and arming Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq, is likely to seize on the report to bolster its assertion that the theocratic regime in Tehran is bent on developing nuclear weapons.
The nine-page IAEA report is to be presented to the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors on June 2.
"The agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile related activities, which could shed more light on the nature of these alleged studies and which Iran should share with the agency," the report said. "It is essential that Iran provide all requested information, clarifications and access outlined in this report without further delay."
The report said Iran must also provide information on the roles that military-run research facilities and industries have played in the country's nuclear program, including in fabricating and procuring components.
The new report also indicated that Iran has become significantly more proficient at enriching uranium, in defiance of U.N. Security Council demands that it suspend its enrichment program, doubling its production and apparently conquering previous technical problems with its enrichment equipment.
Taken together, the conclusions suggest that Iran has made few steps to quiet international anxiety over its nuclear program.
"The alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosives testing and missile re-entry vehicle project remain a matter of serious concern," said the confidential report, a copy of which was obtained by McClatchy. "Clarification of this is critical to an assessment of Iran's past and present nuclear program."
The Bush administration, which has recently stepped up charges that Iran is sowing instability across the Middle East and arming Shiite Muslim militias in Iraq, is likely to seize on the report to bolster its assertion that the theocratic regime in Tehran is bent on developing nuclear weapons.
The nine-page IAEA report is to be presented to the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors on June 2.
"The agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile related activities, which could shed more light on the nature of these alleged studies and which Iran should share with the agency," the report said. "It is essential that Iran provide all requested information, clarifications and access outlined in this report without further delay."
The report said Iran must also provide information on the roles that military-run research facilities and industries have played in the country's nuclear program, including in fabricating and procuring components.
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