Posted on 02/24/2004 5:19:18 PM PST by blam
UN discovers new Iranian nuclear evidence
UN inspectors in Iran have uncovered evidence of nuclear experiments that Tehran did not previously disclose.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is now warning the country to come clean.
The dossier is a setback in Iran's efforts to persuade the world that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it is fully co-operating with the UN.
IAEA inspectors combing Iran for evidence of a weapons program found signs of polonium, a radioactive element that can help trigger a nuclear chain reaction, the report said.
It was distributed to the agency's 35 nation board of governors ahead of a key meeting on Iran early next month.
The agency said the element "could be used for military purposes ... specifically as a neutron initiator in some designs of nuclear weapons."
Iran never mentioned working with polonium-210 in earlier declarations of its past and present nuclear activities, it said.
Polonium-210 also can be used to generate electricity, which Iran contends is the sole purpose of its atomic programme.
Saber Zaimian, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, declined to comment on the report, saying his organisation was studying it.
Story filed: 18:01 Tuesday 24th February 2004
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