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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran opens secret nuclear plant |
| 2005-03-30 |
| Placed on Pg 1 because I consider Iran's nuke program a terrorist operation. Move to 2 if you want.... Journalists have been allowed to accompany Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on his first official visit to the Natanz nuclear facility. Natanz, some 250km (150 miles) south of Tehran, was a closely-guarded secret until late 2002 when its existence was revealed by an Iranian exile group. The site holds uranium enrichment facilities which, the US says, could be aimed at producing nuclear weapons. But Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Yeah! A country swimming in oil needs nuclear energy! In an unusual gesture, Tehran allowed more than 30 local and foreign journalists to accompany President Khatami on a tour of Natanz. They were taken deep inside a building to a vast empty hall designed to house 50,000 enrichment centrifuges, a Reuters news agency report said. The enrichment facility was built more than 18m (54ft) below ground because of "security problems", Iranian officials were quoted as saying. 'Frustrated staff' But defence experts say it could be a precaution against possible aerial attacks from the US and Israel. Dozens of anti-aircraft placements were also spotted by journalists on the approach to Natanz. Gee... I wonder why... Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, said the site was being inspected by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. "IAEA inspectors visit this facility at least once a month and also use a monitoring system to check the suspension," he said. A 'guided' tour no doubt which doesn't include the other really secret sites.... But he said staff were keen to resume enriching uranium, which was frozen while Iran negotiates with the EU over its nuclear programme. YEAH! We want to get on with killing those Jooooos! "The people involved in the project are frustrated by the suspension," he said. "They hope there is an agreement with the Europeans so that all activities can be resumed. Enrichment is Iran's right." |
| Posted by:CrazyFool |