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BERLIN - Europe's major powers have agreed to set a November deadline on Iran to meet demands meant to banish concerns that it is secretly trying to make nuclear weapons, in a confidential document made available Saturday to The Associated Press. The draft resolution was prepared by France, Germany and Britain for Monday's start of a key meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The draft contains a so-called "trigger mechanism," warning of possible "further steps" - which diplomats defined as shorthand for referal of Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council. The draft is likely...

Iran 'Can Create' N-Bomb. July 27, 2004 The Times, London The Statesman, India Iran is just 'months away' from having the capability to enrich uranium for a nuclear bomb, Western diplomatic sources said yesterday. Through diplomatic manoeuvring, Teheran had bought time to complete its research on constructing a centrifuge system to produce highly enriched uranium, the sources told The Times, London. The Iranians had clearly chosen that track for developing bomb-grade material over creating plutonium from its nuclear reactor facility at Bushehr, they said. 'Iran appears to be further advanced in acquiring the relevant nuclear technology than we had initially...

Iran Razed Nuclear Sites THE US today accused Iran of destroying nuclear sites to hide banned nuclear activity. "It's deplorable but not surprising that Iran's deception has gone to the extent of bulldozing entire sites to prevent the IAEA from discovering evidence of its nuclear weapons program," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "I can't give you any independent information, but commercial satellite photography shows the complete dismantling and the razing of a facility at Lavizan Shiyan. "And that's a site that was previously disclosed as a possible Iranian weapons of mass destruction-related site," he said. During a press conference,...

For years, the Iranian government has been playing games with the world about its nuclear program, claiming that they were only interested in peaceful nuclear development. That lie is about to be disproved in the most terrible way possible -- by the emergence of Iran as a nuclear power. For reference, ordinary natural uranium has an atomic weight of 238. Only .72 percent of naturally-occuring uranium consists of an unstable isotope with a weight of 235. Various complex methods can be used to separate the lighter uranium from the mix, but the most common is by gas centrifuge, of the...

<p>According to a report issued last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran continues to respond to inspections of its nuclear facilities with stonewalling and defiance. With the next IAEA board meeting scheduled for Monday in Vienna, the critical question now is whether three EU nations — Britain, France and Germany, also known as the "EU 3" — are prepared to join the United States in stepping up pressure against the Iranian regime.</p>

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Key European powers on Tuesday presented a draft resolution that takes Iran to task for lagging cooperation with a U.N. atomic agency probe into its suspect nuclear activities. The draft "deplores" the fact that Iran's "cooperation has not been complete, timely and proactive," a diplomat quoting parts of the text to The Associated Press said. At the same time, the diplomat said, the draft, written by France, Britain and Germany, "acknowledges Iranian cooperation" in granting agency inspectors access to sites and locations in their investigation. The draft was circulated informally among delegations representing the 35-nation board...

IAEA Draft Resolution Slams Iran For Lack Of Cooperation June 08, 2004 AP VIENNA -- Key European powers Tuesday presented a draft resolution that takes Iran to task for lagging cooperation with a U.N. atomic agency probe into its suspect nuclear activities. A diplomat quoting parts of the text to The Associated Press said the document "deplores" the fact that Iran's "cooperation hasn't been complete, timely and proactive." At the same time, the diplomat said, the draft "acknowledges Iranian cooperation" in granting agency inspectors access to sites and locations in their investigation. The draft was circulated informally among delegations representing...

Iranian Mps Warn of NPT Pullout June 01, 2004 Agence France Presse afp.com TEHRAN -- Iran's new conservative-controlled parliament will consider pulling the Islamic republic out of a key nuclear arms control treaty if the UN's atomic energy watchdog is deemed to be too pro-American, two deputies warned Tueday. "If the IAEA again acts in the way that the Americans want and if the big powers use the Non-Proliferation Treaty to pressure Iran, parliament will examine leaving the NPT," MPs Ali Abaspour and Hossein Nejabat told the hardline Jomhuri Islami newspaper. The warning comes ahead of a June 14 meeting...

Nuclear watchdog off to Iran 30/03/2004 20:37 - (SA) Vienna - UN atomic agency chief Mohammed ElBaradei is to hold talks in Iran next Tuesday to urge the government to co-operate fully with international monitoring of its nuclear program. It will be the third visit to Iran by ElBaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, since the IAEA began in investigating February 2003 whether the Islamic Republic was secretly developing atomic weapons, as the United States alleges. The purpose of the visit is "to consult on outstanding issues relevant to the IAEA's verification of Iran's safeguards agreement"...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - U.N. nuclear agency inspectors returned to Iran Saturday for the first time since Tehran reversed a decision to bar them because of allegations the country was hiding some banned activity. The International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors will inspect two nuclear facilities and quiz top Iranian officials on the country's atomic program. They are trying to verify Iran's claims that its nuclear activity is for peaceful purposes only. IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told The Associated Press in Vienna that the inspectors have already begun their work. Two weeks ago, Iran had barred inspectors after the IAEA issued...

Compromise Struck With Europeans to Delay Referring Iran's Nuclear Program to United Nations Mar.10, 2004 By Barry Schweid/ The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has struck a compromise with European nations that defers a showdown with Iran at the United Nations on its nuclear programs yet deplores its failure to come clean with the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency. A draft resolution, in circulation at a high-level conference of the U.N. agency in Vienna, Austria, catalogues Iran's acquisition of centrifuge technology in what the U.S. intelligence community is convinced is pursuit of nuclear weapons, an American official...

U.S., Europe Agree on Draft Resolution on Iran's Nuclear Activities Mar 9, 2004 By George Jahn/ Associated Press Writer VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Accepting painful compromises, the United States agreed with key European nations on Tuesday to tone down criticism of Iran for its continued nuclear secrecy. Washington also accepted a draft resolution containing some praise of Tehran's willingness to open its nuclear programs to outside inspection. Both sides signed off on the draft document prepared for a high-level conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency after days of grueling negotiations aimed at finding the proper mix of praise and...

A secret Israeli intelligence unit, known as Unit 8200, broke a sophisticated Iranian code enabling Israel to monitor communications, including contacts with Pakistan regarding the development of Iranian nuclear weapons, the New Yorker magazine reported on Tuesday. "On a trip to the Middle East last month, I was told that a number of years ago the Israeli signals-intelligence agency, known as Unit 8200, broke a sophisticated Iranian code and began monitoring communications that included talk between Iran and Pakistan about Iran's burgeoning nuclear-weapons program" Investigative reporter Seymour M. Hersh wrote in the article. According to the report, Israeli intelligence has...

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran acknowledged on Sunday that it bought nuclear components on a shady black market amid mounting concern that the Islamic Republic may still be concealing sensitive nuclear research. Disclosures by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, have in recent weeks lifted the lid on the global trade in nuclear technology that could be used to make atomic bombs. Khan has admitted to leaking nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea (news - web sites). Unlike the other two countries, Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful. "We have bought some things from...

Iran can produce nuke warhead in days Cleric-led regime covertly developed uranium enrichment facilities Iran has secretly developed its uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz, which is now considered the linchpin of the nation's nuclear weapons program, reports Geostrategy-Direct, the global intelligence news service. U.S. officials said that Iran transferred research, development and assembly operations to Natanz in an effort to transform the site into the main facility for the Iranian gas centrifuge program. Iran has ambitious plans for Natanz. Currently, the site includes centrifuge assembly areas and a pilot fuel-enrichment plant slated to hold 1,000 centrifuges. A production-scale fuel-enrichment plant...

<p>Anyone who still believes the "international community" had the will to contain Saddam Hussein through inspections need only look at the non-functional non-proliferation process now taking place in neighboring Iran.</p> <p>This week's report from the International Atomic Energy Agency is as close as could be expected to smoking-gun proof that Tehran's hardliners are building an atomic bomb. The country has been shown to be running multiple uranium-enrichment programs -- all of which it originally failed to declare to the U.N. inspectors, and the more sophisticated of which it kept hiding even when given a chance to come clean in an international agreement last October.</p>

U.N. Inspectors Report Evidence That Iran Itself Made Fuel That Could Be Used for A-Bombs By WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER Published: February 25, 2004 NYTimes Despite Iranian disavowals, International Atomic Energy Agency experts in Iran have found evidence of indigenous production of a concentrated fuel that, if pure enough, can be used to make nuclear weapons. They said in an inspection report that equipment made there showed many traces of the fuel, highly enriched uranium. Iran has consistently argued that any traces of concentrated fuel must have come from equipment contaminated before it was imported, presumably from...

WASHINGTON - Faced with the imminent release of a report by international nuclear inspectors, Iran has acknowledged publicly that it secretly purchased components for its nuclear programme from a network of international suppliers. But it continues to insist that its programme is for electricity production, not weapons. The Foreign Ministry statement came after Mr Hassan Rohani, head of the Supreme National Security Council, met Mr Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna. European and American diplomats believe Mr ElBaradei summarised the results of a report the IAEA is expected to release this week about Iran's...

<p>WASHINGTON — Despite serious misgivings about Iran's nuclear activities, the State Department said Friday it is prepared to give the country more time to meet its commitments to end these programs.</p> <p>Spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States is giving Iran until a March 8-10 meeting of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (search) to comply with promises made late last year. If Iran is found not in compliance, the United States could urge that the IAEA board refer the matter to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions or other options.</p>

United States sets Iran March deadline Deutsche Welle - World News Feb 14, 2004 The United States has given Iran a deadline to end its nuclear weapons programme. The US State Department said Iran has until a March meeting of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency to comply with promises made late last year. If Iran is then found not to be in compliance, the United States could urge that the IAEA board refer the matter to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions or other options. The United States accuses Iran of continuing to hide information on weapons from...

Iran 'has secret atomic bomb project' By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor in Vienna (Filed: 06/02/2004) America has convincing new evidence that Iran is hiding an atomic bomb project despite Teheran's promise to open up all of its nuclear facilities to international inspectors, a senior US official has told The Telegraph. He said the Teheran regime was secretly trying to build a second and more advanced uranium enrichment plant in parallel to the large facilities in the town of Natanz revealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last year. Missile on parade in Teheran "There is no doubt in...

Iran to Hold Tender for Power Plants Tehran - P.I.N. - K.Soltani - 2004/01/18 15:56 TEHRAN – Iran will submit tender bids for building six nuclear power plants, the foreign ministry said Sunday, adding that the affair should go through proper channels. The spokesman for the ministry Hamid-Reza Assefi also told a news briefing that Iran’s nuclear programs were peaceful. “From the very beginning we announced that our nuclear technology follows peaceful purposes. We highlighted this issue in our talks with the foreign ministers from the EU troika,” Assefi said, referring to the October 21 agreement signed between Iran and...

Iran signed a protocol to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty today that allows the International Atomic Energy Agency broader rights of access to sites in the country, a move intended to help establish confidence that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful. Iran's former representative at the agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, and Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the director general of the agency, signed the protocol in Vienna. The agency is a United Nations organization that promotes atomic energy and monitors its use in military applications. "The protocol for us is an important tool for our work towards trying to establish confidence that the nuclear...

Americans view a potential nuclear crisis in Iran as the highest priority in foreign crises (64% rating as 4 or 5 on the scale). Fighting between Israel and the Palestinians rates a close second on the list of priorities (57%). Fewer than half of Americans assign a high priority to rebuilding Afghanistan (43%). The Foreign Policy Association commissioned Zogby International to determine American opinion about US priorities. The poll of 1,000 likely voters was conducted September 5 - 9 from Zogby's Utica, NY Call Center, and has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. Likely voters were asked...

Iran confirmed it has almost completed a plant which would produce heavy water, an aspect of its nuclear programme which has aroused particular suspicion among arms experts. The announcement came as an Israeli intelligence chief called Iran the "No 1 terror nation" and claimed it was plotting relentlessly to attack Israeli targets. Heavy-water reactors can use natural, non-enriched uranium as fuel, which can then be reprocessed to extract weapons-grade plutonium.

Iran will upgrade its medium-range Shahab-3 missiles that analysts say can hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf rather than develop a new, longer range weapon, a senior official was quoted as saying on Monday. Acting Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan denied reports Iran intended to build a new missile, Shahab-4, with a 2000-kilometre range, but said the Shahab-3 would be improved. "We will be optimising our Shahab-3 instead," he was quoted as saying in the hardline Siyasat-e Rouz newspaper. Shahab is Persian for shooting star. It was not immediately clear whether "optimising" meant improving the weapon's accuracy, range or...

Iraq was a failure of the United Nations arms-control system, but Iran could very easily be its last hurrah. If the mullahs follow North Korea in going nuclear under the not-so-watchful eye of the International Atomic Energy Agency, that body will have breathed its last. Yet IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei -- who sees 18 years of deception as "no evidence" of a weapons program -- has given no indication he understands what's at stake. Neither has the vast majority of IAEA member states -- especially those most committed to the concept of "multilateralism." The IAEA board recently voted to respond...

Forget, for the moment, Saddam's weapons of mass destruction — or lack thereof. Consider instead the other WMD conundrum: Iran. Events in Pakistan, where two nuclear scientists were arrested last week, suggest the whole issue is about to blow. (Figuratively, that is.) Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog, declared, implausibly, that there was no evidence of Iran's trying to build an atomic bomb. Washington was gob-smacked. As with the proverbial duck, Iran's efforts looked like a nuclear-weapons program and sounded like a nuclear-weapons program. The trouble was the lack of proof sufficient to...

Iran is in the hot seat with the international community and is the focus of an investigation of its intentions regarding its nuclear program. The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a watchdog agency, is continuing with its investigation into Iran’s nuclear program. America and the Bush Administration believe there is a covert destructive effort to build weapons of mass destuction in Iran. Israel also strongly believes there is ample documentary evidence and intelligence to support that premise. Iran will have nuclear capability in one year, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. His prediction...

This year saw two major nuclear weapons crises. One, in Iran, found a temporary solution following a showdown between Tehran and the UN's nuclear inspections agency. The other, in North Korea, continues to simmer with no solution in sight. Prague, 10 December 2003 (RFE/RL) -- In 2003, the nuclear crises in Iran and North Korea independently tested the world's ability to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. The Iranian nuclear crisis was most in the news -- thanks largely to a year-long showdown between Tehran and the UN's nuclear inspections agency. The dispute saw the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)...

Iran insisted Sunday that it remained committed to an agreement allowing unfettered inspection of its nuclear facilities but gave no date for when it will sign the deal, despite mounting Western pressure. Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said last week he expected Iran to sign a protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ``shortly.'' A Western diplomat in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, suggested Tehran was stalling, and said the United States and other countries were impatient ``for Iran to keep its promises and sign.'' ``From our point of view, it's definite. We have announced to...

Some in the West, particularly in the European Union, view the United Nation’s IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) censure of Iran for concealing details of its nuclear program as a great victory for diplomacy. Unfortunately, nothing in the IAEA statement truly holds Iran accountable for its actions and the prevailing attitude surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions could lead the world down the same slippery slope that led to North Korea building nuclear weapons while the free world hoped for the best. At issue in Iran is whether or not the radical Islamist theocracy desires to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran, along with...

The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Thursday rejected criticism of its failure to detect Iran's clandestine experiments to make enriched uranium and plutonium, saying they were practically undetectable. Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also said Iran had yet to sign a protocol accepting more intrusive snap inspections, though diplomats said it was too early to say whether Tehran was stalling. Iran acknowledged to the IAEA in October that it hid a secret centrifuge uranium enrichment programme from U.N. inspectors for nearly two decades.

France is determined to ensure that Iran permanently freezes experiments to make enriched uranium and plutonium, which could be used in nuclear weapons, its foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday. The spokesman, Herve Ladsous, said he believes a permanent freeze is still possible, despite a senior Iranian official's recent assertion that "there has been and will be no question of a permanent suspension or halt at all." Ladsous, in Washington to meet U.S. officials, discussed the situation in Iran and Iraq and other issues of concern to both nations at a breakfast with a small group of reporters. The U.N.'s...

Despite mounting Western pressure and the implicit threat of sanctions, Iran still has not signed a key agreement to open its nuclear facilities to intrusive inspections, the U.N. atomic energy watchdog said Thursday. Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he expected Iran to sign the accord "shortly." But a Western diplomat suggested that Tehran was stalling, and said the United States and other countries were waiting impatiently "for Iran to keep its promises and sign." Iran agreed last month to open suspect nuclear sites that until now have been off-limits, and to let IAEA inspectors conduct...

Get ready for another high-profile confrontation with Europe over a rogue state bent on developing weapons of mass destruction. As with Iraq, U.N. arms inspectors have made astonishing finds: undisclosed facilities producing nuclear-weapons material, secret supplier agreements to import banned equipment and officials who have engaged in a systematic effort at deception. This time, with Iran, France and its European partners demonstrated more skill in managing the rhythm of events to prevent escalation into crisis. But, despite their efforts, the crisis emerged on Nov. 20 when the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met in Vienna...

IRAN TO BUILD SIX MORE NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY PLANTS TEHRAN, 29 Nov. Iran on Saturday announced its intention to build six more nuclear-powered electricity plants and at the same time expressed confidence that further inspections conducted by the atomic watchdog agency of its nuclear activities will attest to their strictly peaceful nature. In a press conference in Tehran, Hojjatoleslam Hasan Rohani the influential Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) also challenged the United States to bring forth any secrets it claims it has about Tehran’s nuclear activities. "An American official has recently said that they have new information about...

Iran Pursues lans for Heavy Water Reactor Jane's - By Jack Boureston and Charles Mahaffey/ Nov 14, 2003 Iran has admitted it is in the final phase of designing a 40MW heavy water nuclear reactor at Arak. Officials have said that the basic design of the reactor, called the IR-40, has already been completed, and that work has started on a more detailed design. Construction work is due to begin in early 2004. If this is the case, past historical data on the construction of heavy water reactors suggests that the IR-40 could be completed by 2009. Although the Atomic...

The US President renewed, this afternoon, the "National Emergency Act" with Respect to Iran. "This decision extends the existing sanctions against the Islamic republic regime which were instated during the 1979 Hostages crisis. Most Iranian opposition groups and many Iranians of inside were hoping such extension by rejecting the validity of any establishement of relations between the US Administration and the Clerical regime. Several controversial lobby groups, such as, the self called "American Iranian Council" (AIC), the self proclaimed "National Iranian American Council" (NIAC) and businessmen, such as, "Hassan Namazee", former AIC Board member and current board member of the...

U.N. Unit Details Iran's Clandestine Nuclear Program Washington Post - By Joby Warrick and Glenn Kessler/ Nov 11, 2003 'No Evidence' That Weapons Were Sought Iran manufactured small amounts of enriched uranium and plutonium as part of a nuclear program that operated in secret for 18 years, according to a confidential report by a U.N. agency. The report harshly criticizes Iran for deliberately hiding evidence of its nuclear program from international inspectors and for numerous "breaches" in its nuclear treaty obligations. The 29-page report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says there is "no evidence" so far that Iran...

Iran Turns Over Nuclear Documents to U.N. By GEORGE JAHN ASSOCIATED PRESS VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iran handed the U.N. nuclear agency documents on its past atomic energy activities on Thursday, but the dossier apparently did not include the origin of traces of weapons-grade uranium found in the country. "We have submitted a report fully disclosing all our past activities in the nuclear field," Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's representative to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters. Neither Salehi nor IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei would elaborate on the contents of the documents, which Iran turned over ahead of an...

'Iran must learn to play ball fast' European ministers strike a deal over Tehran's nuclear plans The Guardian Christian Science Monitor Editorial, US, October 22 Thursday October 23, 2003 / "Facing an October 31 deadline from the international community and a veiled threat from Israel, Iran's ruling Muslim clerics [on Tuesday] announced they would - for an 'interim period' - suspend a programme aimed at bomb-grade nuclear enrichment and allow spot checks of their nuclear facilities ... Suspicions will still be high in Washington and Israel that Iran may hide a nuclear-weapons programme. But for now, it seems that Iran's...

Iran Bows to Europe Over Nuclear Crisis Independent/ Angus McDowall October 21, 2003/Iran has agreed to more intrusive nuclear checks and to freeze its uranium enrichment programme in an important concession to the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany. Jack Straw, Dominique de Villepin and Joschka Fischer persuaded Iran's hardline clerics to sign a protocol opening its nuclear programme to the outside world. The agreement means Iran has averted the threat of action by the United Nations, which was seen as a possibility if it failed to prove by the end of this month that it is not trying...

Intelligence: Iran building nuke sites - Sites point to nuclear weapons development MSNBC By Robert Windrem NBC NEWS PRODUCER Dec. 13 — A senior U.S. official told NBC News on Thursday that recent intelligence indicates Iran is building two large and potentially significant nuclear facilities south of Tehran. Moreover, there may be other facilities yet undiscovered. The information raises fears that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program more actively than previously thought. THE NEWLY REVEALED facilities are a combination nuclear research lab and gas centrifuge plant for producing enriched uranium at Natanz and a heavy-water production plant at Arak,...

Iran Leads Islamic World's Nuclear Quest October 18, 2003 David Warren The Ottawa Citizen The discussion about Iran this week has turned on the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Shirin Ebadi. She was met on her return to Iran by thousands of zealous well-wishers, to whom she is a symbol of democracy and freedom. The Western media, with their usual obtuseness, speculate about whether this will give a boost to the reforming faction in Iranian politics. Yet they continue to assume that Mohammad Khatami, the twice-elected, if essentially powerless, president, is the key "reformer." He is instead the...

The Dogs Of War Are Barking Again: The Iran "Threat" Payvand News of Iran By Kam Zarrabi For any casual observer in the United States, America’s approach to the “problem” of Iran is not a complicated geopolitical issue requiring exhaustive diplomatic maneuverings. The casual observer simply “knows” that Iran, as the President has stated, is a member of the international Axis of Evil, and the Number One State Sponsor of International Terrorism. We are now told that the Al Gha’eda leadership has direct connections with factions within the Iranian regime. And, of course, we are told that there is no...

Iran confirms enrichment find, denies making it; US expects Russian pullout ArabtimesOnline 9.30.2003 TEHRAN (Agencies): Iran on Monday played down the second discovery here by UN nuclear inspectors of highly enriched uranium, while rejecting the imposition of any restrictions on its civil atomic programme. The Islamic Republic's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told state television that traces of enriched uranium found by the UN body in August at the Kalaye Electric Company near Tehran came into the country on imported equipment. He explained that given the level of enrichment was over 50 per cent, the traces could...

How to stop Iran's radical clerics from adopting the nuclear option By Dr. Assad Homayoun SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Thursday, September 25, 2003 Dr. Assad Homayoun is president of the Azadegan Foundation, which advocates a secular democratic government in Iran and contributes to the formulation of U.S. foreign policy. Geopolitically, Iran's quest for nuclear power is not out of the question. Iran is located in a critical area, between two zones of energy, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, which contains 70 percent of the world’s known oil reserve and 60 percent of its natural gas. It has a...

Thursday September 25, 8:56 AM On eve of inspection, Iran defies IAEA over uranium enrichment With UN monitors poised to make fresh inspections, Iran defied the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, insisting that it would not bow to international demands to give up its uranium enrichment activities. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said in New York that his country wanted to produce enriched uranium to avoid reliance on supplies of nuclear fuel from Russia -- which is building Iran's first nuclear reactor. "It's a matter of national pride to have this capability, this technology especially when it's produced domestically. This does...

Iran launches test run at uranium enrichment factory AFP - World News Sep 23, 2003 TEHRAN: Iran has launched a trial run at a uranium enrichment factory at the centre of Western concerns over its nuclear programme, the country’s representative to the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA said on Monday. “The factory at Natanz launched a test run several weeks ago,” Ali Akbar Salehi said in an interview published by Kayhan newspaper, adding the facility had 164 centrifuges. The international community has voiced concerns that Iran could be producing weapons grade uranium for use in a nuclear arms programme. The director...