IRAN: Secret nuclear plant broke transparency law, says IAEA chief
"Iran was supposed to inform us on the day it was decided to construct the facility. They have not done that," Mohamed ElBaradei, of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a CNN-India interview during a trip to New Delhi. “They have been on the wrong side of the law, you know, insofar as informing the agency about the construction, and as you have seen it, it has created concern in the international community.”
ElBaradei’s comments came the day before Iran was set to meet in Geneva with the U.S. and other world powers to discuss a range of issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program. Washington and its European allies claim that the recent disclosure of what had been a secret nuclear plant is further indication Tehran is determined to produce atomic weapons.
Iran claims its nuclear program is designed to generate energy for civilian use. Hassan Ghafourifard, a senior member of the Iranian Parliament, told Iran’s Press TV that Tehran would not abandoned uranium enrichment, despite Western threats of new economic sanctions.
“Our patience has a limit,” he said. “We have been discussing this problem for three to four years, and they have always asked Iran to stop enrichment.”
Iran’s second uranium-enrichment plant is being built underground near a military base outside the holy city of Qom. Tehran claims the plan will house 3,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%. Weapons-grade uranium needs at least 90% enrichment.
ElBaradei said the new plant violates international law. Directives by the International Atomic Energy Agency required that Iran notify the U.N. watchdog before construction began, he said. Iran has been citing previous IAEA guidelines that stipulate it must inform the IAEA six months before moving nuclear materials into the plant.
Tehran said the plant, which had been under construction for at least three years, was kept secret to use it as a backup facility in case its main plant at Natanz was attacked.
This has been “a setback to the principle of transparency, to the effort by the international community to build confidence about the Iranian nuclear program because Iran has been on the wrong side of the law," said ElBaradei.
He added: "I do not think, based on what we see, that Iran has an ongoing nuclear weapons program. Whether they have done some weaponization studies, as was claimed by the U.S. and others, this is one of the issues that is still outstanding. But I have not seen any credible evidence to suggest that Iran has an ongoing nuclear program today. I hope that they are not having one."
-- Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo
Photo: U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed El Baradei. Credit: Reuters
Iran should not arouse concern. Georgia is the most dangerous flashpoint in Russia's tense relations with the West. The Bible says: "At the appointed time [the king of the north = Russia] will return back [will regain the influence, which it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union] and come into the south [many indicate that this might be Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008]. For the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be humbled, and will return." (Daniel 11:29,30a) Then Iran will be humbled also. "But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [inhabiting on the other side the Euphrates]." (Numbers 24:24a, BBE)
At that time, peace will be taken from the earth and the "great sword" - nuclear sword - will be used. (Revelation 6:4) However, it will be neither the great tribulation nor "the end of the world" (Armageddon). As Jesus foretold, that will be "the beginning of birth pains". (Mathew 24:7,8)
If the Heavens planned a full return of Russia (and much suggests this) the present economic crisis will deepen. Then also the European Union and NATO will not stands.
Posted by: Ewiak Ryszard | October 02, 2009 at 09:26 PM
All other non "Yes Of Course Sir" nuclear power states went through some sanctions during initial nuclear development process and that includes China and USSR, and If western states can not accept Iran as a capable ready state like Japan and Brazil then Iran should dropout of reservation and come back as nuclear weapon state to be needed during next worldly event as India and Pakistan did it after couple of years of meaningless sanctions and now seems to be accepted as such, Iran can bring down current world financial system if it need to defend herself, maybe several months of $500 per barrel can reorder current power structure and distribution of it!
Posted by: Joe | September 30, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Mr. ElBaradei has conducted the longest investigation on Iran's Nuclear program and he still can't make his mind. So, What does he mean when he says "I do not think, based on what we see, that Iran has an ongoing nuclear weapons program.... But I have not seen any credible evidence to suggest that Iran has an ongoing nuclear program today. I hope that they are not having one.". So, it is apparent that this is not the real issue, because he is done.
We know that the Iranian nuclear power plants are not operational yet, thanks to the Russians and we know that they don't have the Technology to have weapon grade facility or weapon grade material to build anything that can threatens anyone, so why don't we stop this cat and mouse game!?
Posted by: Esther Haman | September 30, 2009 at 09:39 AM