IAEA Releases Damning Report on Iran Nuclear Weapons and Lies

Special Section Issue 8, Winter 2011

Iran has been working toward building a nuclear weapon for years, while lying about and concealing its activities, according to a report released yesterday by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A diplomatic source in Vienna, where IAEA headquarters are located, told Haaretz that the document was "the most damning report ever published by the IAEA and only one conclusion can be drawn from it: Iran is working to acquire a nuclear weapon."

The report details tests and acquisitions of materials and technology suggests that Iran has continuously worked to produce a nuclear weapon since 2003. A 13-page annex to the report details intelligence and IAEA research that shows Tehran conducting research into every aspect of making a nuclear weapon, including fitting a warhead onto a missile. This appendix was based on more than 1,000 pages of intelligence and other information given to the agency by the intelligence communities of 10 countries. "While some of the activities identified in the Annex have civilian as well as military applications, others are specific to nuclear weapons," it said.

"Iran also carried out both theoretical and practical tests for the synchronized detonation of a large number of detonators, which is needed to create a fissile chain reaction in the nuclear core of an implosion-type nuclear device and to direct the resultant shock waves in order to hit the target and cause widespread damage," Haaretz reported.

Iran Data Points to A-Bomb
The New York Times said that the report cited:

Documents suggesting that Iran "was working on a project to secure a source of uranium suitable for use in an undisclosed enrichment program" to make bomb fuel.
Evidence that Iran "had been provided with nuclear explosive design information."
Information that it worked on experiments with conventional explosives to compress metal into an incredibly dense mass suitable to start a chain reaction.
Documentation of "at least 14 progressive design iterations "for a missile warhead to deliver an atomic warhead to a distant target."

Al Jazeera reported that the Washington Post said that the new information released by the UN reinforces concerns that Iran has continued its nuclear weapons program since 2003 when US Intelligence Agencies reported that Iran had altered experiments. Al Jazeera also reported that Iran's Ahmadinejad said to Egypt's Al Akhbar newspaper, "Yes, we have military capabilities that are different from any other country in the region. Iran is increasing in capacity and advancement and therefore we are able to compete with Israel and the West and especially the US… Iran will not permit [anyone from making] a move against it."

U.N. Report Highlights
Reuters summed up the annex to the IAEA report as follows:

The [technical findings] below include extracts from the annex to the IAEA report which cites information from member states the agency has assessed as credible. Iran has -

-- Sought to procure equipment, materials and services which would be useful in the development of a nuclear explosive device. These include high speed electronic switches and spark gaps which could be used for triggering and firing detonators, neutron sources, radiation detection and measuring equipment, training courses on topics relevant to nuclear explosives development.

-- Been provided with nuclear explosive design information, a member of a clandestine nuclear supply network told the agency in 2007.

-- Sought information on how to convert highly-enriched uranium into a metal, a step needed to make a nuclear core for a weapon.

-- Developed "exploding bridgewire detonators." "Iran's development of such detonators and equipment is a matter of concern," the report said, citing links to an initiation system.

-- Conducted high-scale explosive experiments in the region of Marivan.

-- Manufactured simulated nuclear explosive components using high density materials such as tungsten.

-- Built a large explosives containment vessel to conduct experiments at Parchin in 2000.

-- Carried out nuclear device modeling studies in 2008 and 2009.

-- Worked to manufacture small capsules suitable for carrying components filled with nuclear material. Such components could be used in a fission chain reaction. This work may have continued after 2004.

-- Planned and carried out preliminary experiments which would be useful for the testing of a nuclear bomb.

-- Studied how to fit payloads onto the re-entry vehicle of a Shahab 3 missile and examined how they would function in theory during launch and flight. The activities may be relevant to a non-nuclear payload but would be highly relevant to a nuclear weapon program, the IAEA said.

-- Worked on developing a prototype firing system which would allow a payload to explode in the air above a target, or upon hitting the ground in the missile re-entry vehicle.

Reuters also reported:

-- Iran has started moving nuclear material to the underground Fordow nuclear site and installed two cascades of 174 enrichment machines. They were not yet connected and were the old IR-1 model which Iran has installed at its main Natanz enrichment plant.

-- Iran has 8,000 installed centrifuge machines at Fordow, around 6,200 are in operation. It has produced 4,922 kg of low-enriched uranium since 2007, or enough for a handful of nuclear weapons if enriched to higher levels.

Sources:
Al Jazeera (November 8, 2011). IAEA set to report on Iran nuclear ambitions

Melman, Yossi; Lis, Jonathan; Cohen, Gili; and Hovel, Revital (November 9, 2011). Jerusalem tight-lipped on 'damning' watchdog report on Iranian nukes. Haaretz (English).

Lis, Jonathan; Cohen, Gili; Melman, Yossi; and Hovel, Revital (November 9, 2011). Israel keeps mum after IAEA releases damning report on Iran. Haaretz (English).

Sanger, David E. and Broad, William J. (November 8, 2011). U.N. agency says Iran data points to A-bomb work. New York Times.

Westall, Sylvia and Dahl, Fredrik (November 8, 2011). Highlights in U.N. report on Iran nuclear program. Reuters.

Tags: IAEA | Iran | Nuclear weapons, destruction, and genocide

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