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Iranian uranium came from Pakistan
Particles of enriched uranium detected in Iran came from equipment provided by the nuclear smuggling network headed by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, according to the tentative findings of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The interim findings were revealed to the London-based Jane's Defense Weekly by sources close to the agency, and have been seen by The Jerusalem Post. The findings, which will be published by the authoritative journal on Wednesday, appear to remove suspicions that Iran may already have manufactured its own enriched uranium. Iranian officials had argued that the particles were merely residual contamination from imported equipment, but they have been unable to prove this claim. The finding could put the Vienna-based IAEA on a collision course with the United States, which wants the matter to be referred to the UN Security Council. Sources have told Jane's that IAEA inspectors believe they can now confirm that a sample of uranium enriched to 54 percent, which was found at one Iranian site, has come from Pakistani equipment. The confirmation was possible only after Islamabad gave the IAEA data to verify the uranium source and the US provided a simulation of the Pakistani nuclear program that matched the account. A separate sample of 36 percent enriched uranium contamination derived from Russian equipment that Moscow had supplied to China. Beijing then passed it on to Pakistan as part of previous nuclear assistance, and Khan later sold it to Iran. Tensions over the Iranian program have heightened in recent weeks as Teheran prepared to start production of uranium hexafluoride gas — a key centrifuge feed material — as well as the assembly of the centrifuges themselves. Posted by: Fred 2004-08-09 |
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