Deja Vu?

[Veyron]

Nuclear agency uneasy over Iran


Experts question why resource-rich Iran needs nuclear power
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog says it remains concerned by Iran's nuclear programme.
A leaked report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said they were unable to confirm that Tehran is not enriching uranium, despite increased co-operation from the Iranian authorities in recent months.

The report says IAEA inspectors found traces of highly enriched uranium in samples taken from the Natanz nuclear facility.

Iran, which the US and Israel say is developing a secret nuclear weapons programme, has been under pressure to agree to more rigorous inspections of its facilities.

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
Allows for inspections at short notice
IAEA can take environmental samples at any location


Nuclear squeeze is on
The Iranian representative to the IAEA, Ali Akbar Salehi, told the BBC after meeting the IAEA's director general, Mohammad ElBaradei, that Iran was ready to begin negotiations on whether to sign up to snap inspections.

Tehran wants guarantees that the IAEA inspectors will not be given total freedom of movement and would not violate military or strategic secrets.

IAEA review

The IAEA has declined to comment directly on the leaked report, but a spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, said there were still a number of outstanding issues, particularly with regard to Iran's enrichment programme, which required urgent resolution.

"Additional work... is required to arrive at conclusions about Iran's statements that there have been no uranium enrichment activities in Iran involving nuclear material," the conclusion to the report said.

Enriching uranium is a way of purifying it so it can be used in nuclear fuel or in weapons.

The IAEA's board of governors is to meet in Vienna for four days from 8 September to review Iran's case, with the threat that it might be forwarded to the UN Security Council if it finds Iran is not complying.

Tehran says its programme is to generate electricity and is for peaceful purposes only, to satisfy its growing demand for power and prevent long-term energy shortages.

[YogsVR4]

I'm all for the use of nuclear power. I am also concerned as to what the Mullahs would do with their nuclear weapons should they actually make them. A country that sends out fanatics to blow themselves up should really avoid the temptation to acquire atomic weapons.

I know it will be argued that they are an independent nation and can do as they see fit. Sure they can. Doesn’t mean it gives me a warm fuzzy that they do. My hope is that they don’t make the bomb. I’d be more worried about them using it then I ever was with the Soviet Union. I’ve got that same feeling about North Korea. The folks in South Korea and Japan are going to be in a world of hurt in the not so distant future.