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As if there was ever any doubt. The IAEA make it clear that Iran has been trying to weaponize nuclear material, it IS NOT just interested in peaceful power generation. Israel attacking in 3...2...
http://www.thespec.com/news/world/ar...eir-nukes-down
The United Nations’ atomic agency says Iran is working on developing nuclear weapons.
The assessment draws on 1,000 pages of intelligence and nearly a decade of research.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is its most unequivocal yet suggesting that Iran is using the cover of a peaceful nuclear program to produce atomic weaponry. Based on years of trying to probe Tehran’s secretive activities, its release will stoke debate on whether it’s time to jettison failed diplomatic efforts to end Iran’s nuclear defiance and replace them with force.
The 13-page annex to the UN agency’s regularly scheduled report on Iran included evidence that suggests the Islamic republic is working on the clandestine procurement of equipment and designs to make nuclear arms.
“While some of the activities identified in the annex have civilian as well as military applications, others are specific to nuclear weapons,” the report said.
Among these were indications that Iran has conducted high explosives testing and detonator development to set off a nuclear charge, as well as computer modelling of a core of a nuclear warhead. The report also cited preparatory work for a nuclear weapons test, and development of a nuclear payload for Iran’s Shahab 3 intermediate range missile — a weapon that can reach Israel.
In Washington, officials said the report confirms U.S. suspicions about the military nature of Iran’s program, and the Obama administration was readying a range of sanctions and other measures against Iran should the Islamic republic fail to answer questions raised about its nuclear ambitions.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said there was a government directive not to comment until Israel has studied the findings in depth.
But before the report’s release, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned of a possible Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
“We continue to recommend to our friends in the world and to ourselves, not to take any option off the table,” he told Israel radio.
That phrase is often used by Israeli politicians to mean a military assault. Israeli leaders have engaged in increased sabre rattling recently, suggesting that an attack was likely a more effective way to stop Iran’s nuclear program than continued diplomacy.
Iran is under UN sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment — which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material — and other suspected activities that the international community fears could be used to make atomic arms. But Iran dismisses such allegations and says its activities are meant to be used only for energy or research.
Iran’s official news agency dismissed the findings, accusing IAEA chief Yukiya Amano of including “worthless comments and pictures provided by the intelligence services.” In Vienna, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s chief IAEA delegate, called the report “unbalanced, unprofessional and prepared with political motivation and political pressure by the United States.”
Some of the information was new — including evidence of a large metal chamber at a military site for nuclear-related explosives testing. Iran contemptuously dismissed that, saying they were merely metal toilet stalls.
A senior diplomat familiar with the report said its significance lay in the comprehensive way it laid out evidence indicating that Iran has engaged in all aspects of testing needed to develop a nuclear weapon. Also significant was the agency’s decision to share most of what it knows or suspects about Iran’s secret work with the 35-nation IAEA board and the UN Security Council after being stonewalled by Tehran in its attempts to probe such allegations.
The UN Security Council has passed four sets of damaging sanctions on Iran, but veto-wielding members China and Russia oppose further measures and are unlikely to change their minds despite the report’s findings.
The Associated Press
http://www.thespec.com/news/world/ar...eir-nukes-down
The United Nations’ atomic agency says Iran is working on developing nuclear weapons.
The assessment draws on 1,000 pages of intelligence and nearly a decade of research.
The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is its most unequivocal yet suggesting that Iran is using the cover of a peaceful nuclear program to produce atomic weaponry. Based on years of trying to probe Tehran’s secretive activities, its release will stoke debate on whether it’s time to jettison failed diplomatic efforts to end Iran’s nuclear defiance and replace them with force.
The 13-page annex to the UN agency’s regularly scheduled report on Iran included evidence that suggests the Islamic republic is working on the clandestine procurement of equipment and designs to make nuclear arms.
“While some of the activities identified in the annex have civilian as well as military applications, others are specific to nuclear weapons,” the report said.
Among these were indications that Iran has conducted high explosives testing and detonator development to set off a nuclear charge, as well as computer modelling of a core of a nuclear warhead. The report also cited preparatory work for a nuclear weapons test, and development of a nuclear payload for Iran’s Shahab 3 intermediate range missile — a weapon that can reach Israel.
In Washington, officials said the report confirms U.S. suspicions about the military nature of Iran’s program, and the Obama administration was readying a range of sanctions and other measures against Iran should the Islamic republic fail to answer questions raised about its nuclear ambitions.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said there was a government directive not to comment until Israel has studied the findings in depth.
But before the report’s release, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned of a possible Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
“We continue to recommend to our friends in the world and to ourselves, not to take any option off the table,” he told Israel radio.
That phrase is often used by Israeli politicians to mean a military assault. Israeli leaders have engaged in increased sabre rattling recently, suggesting that an attack was likely a more effective way to stop Iran’s nuclear program than continued diplomacy.
Iran is under UN sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment — which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material — and other suspected activities that the international community fears could be used to make atomic arms. But Iran dismisses such allegations and says its activities are meant to be used only for energy or research.
Iran’s official news agency dismissed the findings, accusing IAEA chief Yukiya Amano of including “worthless comments and pictures provided by the intelligence services.” In Vienna, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s chief IAEA delegate, called the report “unbalanced, unprofessional and prepared with political motivation and political pressure by the United States.”
Some of the information was new — including evidence of a large metal chamber at a military site for nuclear-related explosives testing. Iran contemptuously dismissed that, saying they were merely metal toilet stalls.
A senior diplomat familiar with the report said its significance lay in the comprehensive way it laid out evidence indicating that Iran has engaged in all aspects of testing needed to develop a nuclear weapon. Also significant was the agency’s decision to share most of what it knows or suspects about Iran’s secret work with the 35-nation IAEA board and the UN Security Council after being stonewalled by Tehran in its attempts to probe such allegations.
The UN Security Council has passed four sets of damaging sanctions on Iran, but veto-wielding members China and Russia oppose further measures and are unlikely to change their minds despite the report’s findings.
The Associated Press
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