Posted on 04/12/2005 11:06:47 AM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
UN Tallies Uranium in Iran Amid Suspicions
Louis Charbonneau, Reuters:
The U.N. nuclear watchdog is making an inventory of processed uranium in Iran amid concerns that inconsistencies in the tally could mean Tehran secretly shifted some uranium out of a nuclear facility, diplomats said.
One intelligence agency has accused Iran of spiriting an unspecified quantity of processed uranium, which could be processed further and enriched for weapons purposes, out of the Isfahan uranium conversion facility to an unknown location.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog declined to comment and no diplomats in Vienna confirmed the allegation. However, two European diplomats accredited with the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a U.S. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that the charge was credible.
A senior official at another spy agency also said it was possible but doubted more than a small amount could have been moved out of Isfahan under the nose of the U.N., which has sealed the facility and installed monitoring cameras there.
Many tonnes of processed uranium would be needed for a bomb.
But diverting such material would violate Iran's pledge to freeze all sensitive nuclear work, as well as the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), EU diplomats said. It would also bolster Washington's argument that Iran has a secret bomb program alongside its atomic power plans.
Tehran denies wanting weapons and insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity.
An IAEA team arrived in Iran at the beginning of the month to make an inventory of 37 tonnes of raw "yellowcake" uranium that was processed at the Isfahan facility recently, said diplomats close to the IAEA, who declined to be named.
Several diplomats said the IAEA had told them to expect inconsistencies in the inventory, inconsistencies that could indicate Iran has either lost some uranium or shifted it out of the plant.
NEW ALLEGATION
A non-U.S. diplomat, citing intelligence gathered by his country, said Iran had recently moved some uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) out of the facility to an unknown location without U.N. inspectors' knowledge.
"We have evidence that significant amounts of UF4 have been diverted from Isfahan," the diplomat said.
He said the UF4, which could be processed further and enriched for use in weapons, may be intended for a secret cache of uranium but could also indicate the existence of an undeclared conversion plant and possibly an enrichment facility elsewhere in the country. He gave no further details. Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
Isfahan has been a focus of recent attention because Iran built tunnels under it to protect equipment in case of a U.S. or Israeli military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Isfahan facility is one of several that Iran has allowed the IAEA to seal shut and monitor as part of a voluntary freeze of activities that could lead to the production of weapons-grade nuclear material.
One of the problems with an inventory of the Isfahan facility is its large size and the massive quantities of uranium that have been fed into it recently.
The amount that comes out does not match what went in because of the chemistry of the conversion process and varies according to the efficiency of the machinery. Some of the material is lost as waste in the process, experts say.
"It (the inventory) is a messy business," a European diplomat said.
MARGIN OF ERROR
Another EU diplomat said IAEA rules did not require countries to account for all converted uranium, though suspicions about Iran's atomic plans made it a special case.
"There is a margin of error, a percentage that you don't have to account for because it is lost in waste. But if you were Iran, you'd want to account for every drop or else you'd be vulnerable to these kinds of allegations," he said.
David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and head of a U.S.-based think-tank, said many tonnes of UF4 would be needed to make bomb fuel. While he doubted Iran could move so much out of Isfahan, he said the monitoring there was not perfect.
"Is the safeguarding of this facility sufficient? No, it's not. But the key question is how much do you need to make a bomb. Even if you're missing a tonne, it's not like they're going to be able to make a bomb with it," Albright said. ...
- Bill Samii writing for Radio Free Europe reports the possibility that an individual connected with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) could be elected as Iran's next president and this is causing some consternation in Iranian political circles.
- Al Jazeera reports that Iran has vowed to take legal action against the United States government for funding the opposition groups in the country.
- CBC News reports Iran won't allow an international team of forensic scientists to examine the body of Zahra Kazemi as Canada has demanded.
- Eli Lake writing for the NY Sun claims the Bush administration approached Hizbollah for talks and that the group would be open to new discussions. The administration denies the allegation.
- Reuters reports Russia is likely to delay shipments of enriched uranium fuel to Iran to start up a Russian-built atomic power plant there until the autumn.
- Iran Focus reports Iran's state-run media and press reacted harshly to a recent meeting held in the United States Congress designed to rehabilitate the MEK.
- Christopher Brown writing for FrontPageMagazine.com reports on the dangers of the growing Iran-Chavez alliance.
- Reuters reports Israeli defense officials asked Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to raise a military option against Iran's nuclear programme with US President George Bush.They also produced photos showing the very advances stage of Iran's nuclear program.
- Global Information System reports of evidence of a new Palestinian insurgency offensive to coincide with Iranian-Syrian push.
- The Department of State is soliciting applications for grants to promote human rights and democratization initiatives in Iran.
- SMCCDI reports The "Nemazee Vs. SMCCDI/Pirouznia" trial has been postponed until fall 2005.
- WorldNetDaily.com reports that Mohamed ElBaradei International Atomic Energy Agency chief said al-Qaida and other terrorist groups tried to obtain a nuclear weapon.
- And finally, MemriTV.org once again provides us with a window into Iranian TV. Check out a few of their latest excerpts.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
You can't INVENTORY what's already been SECRETED away!~}
France Germany and the UN are such an embarrassment.
http://regimechangeiran.blogspot.com/2005/04/iran-observers-fear-militarization-of.html
Actually, different factions within the IRGC are plotting with their own agenda, we can not exclude a coup d'état attempt before the election. Any possibility is possible!
"Any possibility is possible!"
Ya don't say!
A memorial board and a sample of Human Rights Declaration of the Cyrus the Great was installed in San Diego, California yesterday by the municipality of San Diego.
26 of March of every year declared as the friendship day of Americans and Iranians
The regime is trying to militarize the government after society!
Check this thread!
Im a new FReeper, and also looking for a conservative summer internship since I am in college at a liberal university (Tennessee State University); does anyone have any advice to offer? If so just reply to me privately.
According to Tom Tancredo : "The MEK [PMOI] was designated not because it was involved in terrorist activities, but because the Clinton administration sought to curry favour with the Iranian regime"
The MEK WAS involved in terrorist activities and it doesn't matter now what Clinton's motives were.
Dr. Ledeen, can you educate congressman Tancredo and his fellow members of the Subcommittee on
International Terrorism on the MEK and the sentiments of Iranians regarding them? The MEK seem to be steamrolling along and picking up speed and supporters. This doesn't sit well with our Iranian friends and sends a troubling message.
What are your thoughts regarding the articles on OpenDemocracy web page?
OpenDemocracy dotcom?dotnet?dotorg?
how about a link?
Iran between revolution and democracy
http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-3-128-2415.jsp
Iran’s road to democracy
Mohsen Sazegara
http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-3-128-2413.jsp
IS IRAN ON THE WAY TO A COLOUR REVOLUTION?
http://www.iran-press-service.com/ips/articles-2005/april-2005/iran_referendum_13405.shtml
This thread is now closed.
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin”
Where are Anti-Terrorism regulations????
What happens if Khatami invites Osama Bin ladan to Iran for a public meeting? What will be the US reaction to it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.