THE UN nuclear watchdog will reveal significant new evidence this week that Iran has sought to build a nuclear bomb, revealing that Tehran has built a large steel container that can be used to carry out tests with the high explosives found in atomic weapons.
In an extensive report into Iran’s nuclear activities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will say it has obtained satellite pictures of the container at Parchin, near Tehran, and other evidence suggesting the installation was intended for nuclear-related explosives testing.
The agency will also reveal evidence suggesting that, since 2004, Iran has carried out computer modelling of a highly enriched uranium base in a way that can only be applied to planned testing of a nuclear device.
Iran has always said its programme is aimed at no more than production of electricity. But these revelations are set to be the most sustained indication by the watchdog that Iran is aiming to produce a weapon.
Western diplomats acknowledge the document has no “killer fact” that proves Iran is close to testing a bomb. It is unclear, for example, if the agency will be able to say when the Parchin facility was built or if it has been used.
Instead, diplomats suggest, the document shows Iran was adopting a structured approach towards building a bomb until 2004 but then shifted to a policy of “gradual capacity creep”.
“There is no smoking gun in the report but a gradual and telling accumulation of evidence of Iran’s intent,” said one diplomat.
The US, Britain and France hope the agency’s report will galvanise the UN Security Council to start a new round of sanctions against Iran. However, a leading European official said: “I’m not sure there will be enough in the document to bring the Russians back to the UN to back sanctions. A lot depends on how far the IAEA executive is prepared to go in signing off the report with sharp and straight conclusions.”
Tehran’s rulers shrugged off the prospect of tightening sanctions, insisting the Islamic regime would make no compromise. Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, said western powers were “unfairly” putting pressure on Iran. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)