Iran extremely advanced in nuclear programme, says Time Magazine

Straits Times ^

[DeaconBenjamin]

WASHINGTON -- Iran is further along in developing a nuclear enrichment facility than it disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed El-Baradei on a visit last month, Time Magazine said on Saturday.

The weekly news magazine, in an advance of its Monday edition, quotes diplomatic sources as saying Iran's nuclear programme development is so advanced that it puts the country in 'blatant violation' of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

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International weapons inspectors in Iran late last month were shown a network of sophisticated machinery to enrich uranium, spurring concerns that Tehran is making progress in developing a nuclear weapons programme.

The site in question, near the north-western city of Natanz, was visited by Dr El-Baradei, who was in Iran to assess the status of its nuclear programme.

During the visit to the Natanz site, inspectors found a small network of centrifuges for enriching uranium and learnt that Iran had components to make a significant number of additional centrifuges.

US officials said at the time that Natanz could be part of a long suspected nuclear weapons programme, benefitting from Pakistani assistance and far more advanced than similar efforts made by neighbouring Iraq.

Time Magazine quoted its diplomatic sources as saying work on the Natanz plant 'is extremely advanced' and involves 'hundreds' of gas centrifuges ready to produce enriched uranium and 'the parts for a thousand others ready for assembly'.

Iran announced last week it intends to activate, under IAEA safeguards, a uranium conversion facility near the city of Isfahan, a step that produces the uranium hexafluoride gas used in the enrichment process, according to Time.

The IAEA declined to comment, said Time, and a senior State Department official

[EggsAckley]

but, but, but.......how can this be?? Martin Sheen assures us that they have no nukes. Color me confooosed.

[Defiant]

Iran knows that it is next, and is following the North Korea approach to obliteration of the axis of evil.

[angkor]

There was a reason those three were named the Axis Of Evil.

[Petronski]

But this can't be. If Mohammed ElBaradei hasn't discovered it, it CANNOT EXIST.

[concerned about politics]

Iran's nuclear programme development is so advanced that it puts the country in 'blatant violation' of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

I thought the U.N. had "rules" about that. Gee, go figure. :-P

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

well what a coincidence within a couple of weeks we are going to have 300 thousands troops due west of tehran gee I wonder what we should do

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Not to worry. The UN will send Blix after he is finished not finding anything in Iraq, and he will not find anything in Iran. He will blow gas and pontificate for a few months at the UNSC, and then we can all breathe a sigh of relief, because Blix, Chiraq, Schroeder, Putin, and the rest of the old and new European appeasers and marxists will declare that all is well. Then when the USA is hit again they will all certainly cry about how horrible it was - while they wink, nod, and smile among themselves.

[KickRightRudder]

We owe Iran. The marine barracks bombing was never officially investigted by Reagan. But Bob Baer who was there as our only Cia agent at the time, writes in his book that after ten years of unofficial investigation, he says it was done by arafats men with money and support of Iran.

We reserved that right to retaliate at the time- I say its a good time for payback.

On the other hand, they are Israels greatest nemisis. They should carry some of the load. It's time that reactor get blown away; don't you agree?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

well what a coincidence within a couple of weeks we are going to have 300 thousands troops due west of tehran gee I wonder what we should do

Attack in all four directions.

[Crusader21stCentury]

Rumsfeld to the President:
Well Mr. President the Iraq campaign is complete, who's next N. Korea or Iran?

President Bush:
Lets flip a coin. Heads - Iran, Tails - N. Korea.

[Stay the course]

Attack in all four directions.

Worked for Nathan Bedford Forrest.

[Grampa Dave]

Sheenless was saying that Ireland had no nukes. You know how old alcoholic/druggies can't keep anything together.

[College Repub]

When/If Iran gets far enough Israel will end their program if the US will not.

[FreeCanuckistan]

Looks like it's 'full steam ahead' for the bad guys.......the race to develop WMD's before they get stomped by America.

The time to move on them......is now.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Mount up!

[a_Turk]

Thank you, our friends the Russians... /sarc

[meyer]

I think that Iran will be pretty nice to Dubya after a week or two of shocking and aweing. That's my guess anyway. Their saber rattling is timely and political - they are with the leftists after all.