The Daily Telegraph reported this morning that China has provided IAEA inspectors with intelligence on Iran’s nuclear weapon program. According to the report, China’s betrayal of its close ally came after documents, reportedly seized from Iranian officials [Green Salt Project], were shown to China and IAEA officials indicated that Iran had the blueprints for converting uranium metal into warheads. The documents also included the blueprints for testing of high explosive used to detonate radioactive materials.
Diplomats told The Daily Telegraph that the documents triggered China’s change of heart and it decided to provide IAEA with the intelligence related to Iran’s nuclear program. This could be a significant development.
CIA Director Michael Hayden said this week that he believed that Iran is still developing a nuclear bomb.
Meanwhile, Israel has issued gas masks to its citizens in anticipation of possible military confrontation with Iran.
Update: AP was the original source of the news story on China’s providing UN with Iran’s nuclear secrets. Two senior diplomats associated with IAEA investigation of Iran's nuclear program told AP that China gave information about Iran to IAEA.
Showing posts with label Green Salt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Salt. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Iran Challenged on Nuclear Program
The IAEA report did clear up a number of ambiguities in the program’s past. But it added a major problem for Iran: IAEA said a possible military dimension to Iran’s nuclear program is of “serious concern” and as a result it could not say if the program was/is peaceful.
The Iranian government declared “victory” over the report, calling the evidence on Green Salt project “baseless” and “fabricated.” Green Salt allegedly was a program to produce uranium metal, detonators, and warheads which together form the structure of a nuclear weapon program. President Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview that the alleged evidence could have been fabricated by “any fifth-grader with access to a computer” [IRIB, Channel 1; 24 February].
IAEA deputy chief and head of safeguard, Olli Heinonen, today briefed the IAEA board members on details supporting the agency’s report. AFP reports that the Iranian ambassador to IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was so enraged at Heinonen’s presentation, especially his briefing on the evidence supporting the existence of the Green Salt project that Heinonen had to calm him twice and to ask him to stay on the subject [AFP, 25 February].
I have argued before in this site that Iran could have easily accepted the fact that it was indeed studying the weaponization program, but it halted those activities in 2003. As is, the government has cornered itself. It has to repeat that the evidence is fabricated and could be the work of a fifth-grader and so on, then to be “enraged” when the evidence are shown at an IAEA board briefing.
These are not the finest hours for Iranian diplomacy. Senior diplomats from the six major powers gathered today in Washington and agreed on a two-track strategy on Iran nuclear issue. They will pass a new round of sanctions at UN Security Council in the next few days while offering Tehran negotiations if it halted its uranium enrichment activities.
The severity of the new sanctions, or lack of, however, will not be the big news. The significance of such move at UNSC will be the “Yes” vote by Russia and China.
The US will add its own set of severe sanctions. There are widespread reports that US will blacklist the Central Bank of Iran. The EU, or at least the major European powers, can take similar measure. Sanctioning Bank Markazi, the Central Bank, would be a disaster for Iran. It will severely disrupt its international trade and banking transactions.
Calling the IAEA report a “victory” for the Iranian nation is like living in a parallel universe. It’s an eerie feeling in Tehran these days that the leaders might have lost touch with realities.
The Iranian government declared “victory” over the report, calling the evidence on Green Salt project “baseless” and “fabricated.” Green Salt allegedly was a program to produce uranium metal, detonators, and warheads which together form the structure of a nuclear weapon program. President Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview that the alleged evidence could have been fabricated by “any fifth-grader with access to a computer” [IRIB, Channel 1; 24 February].
IAEA deputy chief and head of safeguard, Olli Heinonen, today briefed the IAEA board members on details supporting the agency’s report. AFP reports that the Iranian ambassador to IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was so enraged at Heinonen’s presentation, especially his briefing on the evidence supporting the existence of the Green Salt project that Heinonen had to calm him twice and to ask him to stay on the subject [AFP, 25 February].
I have argued before in this site that Iran could have easily accepted the fact that it was indeed studying the weaponization program, but it halted those activities in 2003. As is, the government has cornered itself. It has to repeat that the evidence is fabricated and could be the work of a fifth-grader and so on, then to be “enraged” when the evidence are shown at an IAEA board briefing.
These are not the finest hours for Iranian diplomacy. Senior diplomats from the six major powers gathered today in Washington and agreed on a two-track strategy on Iran nuclear issue. They will pass a new round of sanctions at UN Security Council in the next few days while offering Tehran negotiations if it halted its uranium enrichment activities.
The severity of the new sanctions, or lack of, however, will not be the big news. The significance of such move at UNSC will be the “Yes” vote by Russia and China.
The US will add its own set of severe sanctions. There are widespread reports that US will blacklist the Central Bank of Iran. The EU, or at least the major European powers, can take similar measure. Sanctioning Bank Markazi, the Central Bank, would be a disaster for Iran. It will severely disrupt its international trade and banking transactions.
Calling the IAEA report a “victory” for the Iranian nation is like living in a parallel universe. It’s an eerie feeling in Tehran these days that the leaders might have lost touch with realities.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Reactions to IAEA Report
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today declared “victory” over superpowers after IAEA published its report on the country’s nuclear program. Ahmadinejad said he would have ordered a nationwide celebration if the country was not observing the religious month of Safar [IRIB, 23 February].
Yesterday, the IAEA had said in its report that because of unresolved issues concerning an alleged Iranian program to produce a nuclear weapon (Green Salt project), it was not in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear program. IAEA report expressed “serious concerns” in this regard. Iran analysts were bewildered today how President Ahmadinejad could declare victory over such strongly-worded statement by the IAEA.
In a related development, France said the IAEA report raises questions about the nature of Iran’s nuclear activities [AFP, 23 February]. A French foreign ministry statement said “important uncertainties remain, in particular on activities that could have a military nuclear dimension.”
In the US, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a quick UN action to penalize Iran for refusing to roll back its nuclear program. Rice said the new IAEA report strengthened the case for further UN sanctions against Iran [AP, 23 February].
Yesterday, the IAEA had said in its report that because of unresolved issues concerning an alleged Iranian program to produce a nuclear weapon (Green Salt project), it was not in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear program. IAEA report expressed “serious concerns” in this regard. Iran analysts were bewildered today how President Ahmadinejad could declare victory over such strongly-worded statement by the IAEA.
In a related development, France said the IAEA report raises questions about the nature of Iran’s nuclear activities [AFP, 23 February]. A French foreign ministry statement said “important uncertainties remain, in particular on activities that could have a military nuclear dimension.”
In the US, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for a quick UN action to penalize Iran for refusing to roll back its nuclear program. Rice said the new IAEA report strengthened the case for further UN sanctions against Iran [AP, 23 February].
Friday, February 22, 2008
The IAEA Report
“The Agency is not yet in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.” (IAEA Iran Safeguard Report, 22 February 2008)
The long awaited IAEA report on Iranian nuclear program was released today. The report indicates that Iran has answered most of the questions and has resolved ambiguities about the program’s past, save one major issue: the alleged studies on the “green salt” project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle. Hence, the agency could not certify that Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
As the readers of this blog are aware, our post on n 1 September 2007 indicated that the US officials have provided the IAEA the evidence that Green Salt involves the production of uranium metal which is the core of atomic bombs, as well as the production of high explosives and missile warheads which altogether would make up the structure of an advanced nuclear weapon program.
Today, IAEA reports that it has indeed confronted the Iranian officials with evidence obtained from the US and other countries on the Green Salt and other relevant information.
- The conversion of uranium dioxide (UO2) into uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) (the green salt project), with a capacity to process about 1 ton per year of UF4.
- A sketch of a process to produce 50 tons of UF4 per year.
- High explosives testing and the design of a missile re-entry vehicle, which could have a military nuclear dimension.
- The testing of high voltage detonator firing equipment.
- The development of an exploding bridgewire.
- The roles of certain officials and institutes and their relation to nuclear activities.
- “Project 4” (possibly uranium enrichment) and laser related R&D activities.
The IAEA reports indicated that on 15 February 2008, the agency proposed to Iran a further meeting to show “additional documentation on the alleged studies” to Iran after being authorized to do so by the countries which had provided them. Iran has not yet responded to the agency’s request.
IAEA has clarified all the remaining outstanding issues. However, the Green Salt and related projects remain unresolved, and as a result the very nature of the Iran’s progam remains unclear.
IAEA board of governors would meet on 3 March to examine today’s report.
The long awaited IAEA report on Iranian nuclear program was released today. The report indicates that Iran has answered most of the questions and has resolved ambiguities about the program’s past, save one major issue: the alleged studies on the “green salt” project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle. Hence, the agency could not certify that Iran’s nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
As the readers of this blog are aware, our post on n 1 September 2007 indicated that the US officials have provided the IAEA the evidence that Green Salt involves the production of uranium metal which is the core of atomic bombs, as well as the production of high explosives and missile warheads which altogether would make up the structure of an advanced nuclear weapon program.
Today, IAEA reports that it has indeed confronted the Iranian officials with evidence obtained from the US and other countries on the Green Salt and other relevant information.
- The conversion of uranium dioxide (UO2) into uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) (the green salt project), with a capacity to process about 1 ton per year of UF4.
- A sketch of a process to produce 50 tons of UF4 per year.
- High explosives testing and the design of a missile re-entry vehicle, which could have a military nuclear dimension.
- The testing of high voltage detonator firing equipment.
- The development of an exploding bridgewire.
- The roles of certain officials and institutes and their relation to nuclear activities.
- “Project 4” (possibly uranium enrichment) and laser related R&D activities.
The IAEA reports indicated that on 15 February 2008, the agency proposed to Iran a further meeting to show “additional documentation on the alleged studies” to Iran after being authorized to do so by the countries which had provided them. Iran has not yet responded to the agency’s request.
IAEA has clarified all the remaining outstanding issues. However, the Green Salt and related projects remain unresolved, and as a result the very nature of the Iran’s progam remains unclear.
IAEA board of governors would meet on 3 March to examine today’s report.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Iran’s Nuclear Impasse: An Update
EU will debate on 15 October whether to impose its own set of new sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear program. France and Britain are pushing for heavier sanctions held up at UN Security Council until November. Germany and Italy have voiced reservations about such action prior to November when IAEA chief Mohammad ElBaradei is scheduled to deliver an all-important report on Iran’s nuclear research and weaponization.
Meanwhile today the Iranian president announced in Tehran that Iran has overcome difficulties in its nuclear path and no one could now stop it. Reports from Tehran also indicate that Iran has indeed installed 18 cascades, the equivalent of just under 3,000 centrifuge machines. This is the threshold of enriching uranium at industrial scale.
Yesterday, IAEA chief Mohammad ElBaradei warned Iran that it must soon provide key details on its nuclear research capabilities and its nuclear weaponization capacity. ElBaradei said that he has told the Iranians that, “This is your litmus test. You committed yourself to come clean. If you don't, nobody will be able to come to your support.” (AFP, 3 September). Elbaradei must present his report to IAEA board on 22 November.
Iran has agreed to answer questions regarding the Green Salt project. As already reported in this blog, the US has provided IAEA information contained in a laptop computer about a secret Iranian nuclear program, dubbed “Green Salt”. The laptop was obtained by the US intelligence and the information in it reportedly covers underground nuclear testing, development of missiles with nuclear warhead and production of highly enriched uranium used in an atomic bomb. The segment on “nuclear weapanization” program in Elbaradei’s report would deal with questions surrounding the Green Salt project
If the Iranians fail to adhere to the timetable and do not release the information to IAEA by 22 November, ElBaradei said, the whole process will “backfire in their face.”
Meanwhile today the Iranian president announced in Tehran that Iran has overcome difficulties in its nuclear path and no one could now stop it. Reports from Tehran also indicate that Iran has indeed installed 18 cascades, the equivalent of just under 3,000 centrifuge machines. This is the threshold of enriching uranium at industrial scale.
Yesterday, IAEA chief Mohammad ElBaradei warned Iran that it must soon provide key details on its nuclear research capabilities and its nuclear weaponization capacity. ElBaradei said that he has told the Iranians that, “This is your litmus test. You committed yourself to come clean. If you don't, nobody will be able to come to your support.” (AFP, 3 September). Elbaradei must present his report to IAEA board on 22 November.
Iran has agreed to answer questions regarding the Green Salt project. As already reported in this blog, the US has provided IAEA information contained in a laptop computer about a secret Iranian nuclear program, dubbed “Green Salt”. The laptop was obtained by the US intelligence and the information in it reportedly covers underground nuclear testing, development of missiles with nuclear warhead and production of highly enriched uranium used in an atomic bomb. The segment on “nuclear weapanization” program in Elbaradei’s report would deal with questions surrounding the Green Salt project
If the Iranians fail to adhere to the timetable and do not release the information to IAEA by 22 November, ElBaradei said, the whole process will “backfire in their face.”
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Ahmadinejad Accuses Opponents of Treachery Over Nuclear Secrets
This blogger wrote here yesterday that the reports circulating in Tehran point to a serious breach of security at the highest levels of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as the reson behind the change of command in the all-powerful organization. The existence of the Green Salt Project, reportedly IRGC’s nuclear weapon program, had been compromised and the US had shared the information with the IAEA.
President Ahmadinejad, during his press conference in Tehran today, referred to the “treachery of some people inside the country on the nuclear issue.” (Fars News Agency, 2 September). He, however, pointed his finger to a large number of his opponents within the country’s establishment.
“These people were not just one or two individuals but eight to ten people,” Ahmadinejad said of the people involved in the security breach. These people “think only they can run the country and whose newspapers are filled with foul languages everyday. They were transferring the latest news and information and were telling the Westerners that they should exert as much pressure as possible.” (Fars News Agency, 2 September).
Ahmadinejad is accusing a large number of presumably former government officials (“those who think only they can run the government”) of high treason. The president is using a security breach within the IRGC to launch an unprecedented attack on his opponents within the regime only months prior to the parliamentary elections. We should expect the hard-line Guardian Council to disqualify former high-ranking officials from the reformist and moderate camps from running in the Majlis elections on charges of “treachery.” We are indeed witnessing an emerging picture of a regime in disarray.
President Ahmadinejad, during his press conference in Tehran today, referred to the “treachery of some people inside the country on the nuclear issue.” (Fars News Agency, 2 September). He, however, pointed his finger to a large number of his opponents within the country’s establishment.
“These people were not just one or two individuals but eight to ten people,” Ahmadinejad said of the people involved in the security breach. These people “think only they can run the country and whose newspapers are filled with foul languages everyday. They were transferring the latest news and information and were telling the Westerners that they should exert as much pressure as possible.” (Fars News Agency, 2 September).
Ahmadinejad is accusing a large number of presumably former government officials (“those who think only they can run the government”) of high treason. The president is using a security breach within the IRGC to launch an unprecedented attack on his opponents within the regime only months prior to the parliamentary elections. We should expect the hard-line Guardian Council to disqualify former high-ranking officials from the reformist and moderate camps from running in the Majlis elections on charges of “treachery.” We are indeed witnessing an emerging picture of a regime in disarray.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
IRGC Commander Sacked. Why?
Gen. Safavi (left) and Gen. JafariThe outgoing and the new commander of IRGC
(Press TV Photo)
The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenie today removed Maj. Gen. Yahya Safavi from his powerful post as the Commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corp. (IRGC). Reports circulating in Tehran point to a security breakdown at IRGC as the main reason for the command change. A laptop computer with highest compartmental security clrearance access requirement had apparently been stolen in Iran recently containing sensitive information on Iran’s Green Salt Project.
The US intelligence officials have provided the IAEA the evidence that Green Salt involves uranium processing, presumably the production of uranium metal which is the core of atomic bombs, as well as the production of high explosives and missile warheads which together would make up the structure of an advanced nuclear weapon program.
The new IRGC commander is Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Aziz Jafari. Gen. Jafari was most recently the director of IRGC’s Center for Strategic Studies. Previously he commanded IRGC ground forces.
Gen. Safavi, the outgoing IRGC commander, was named in the UN Security Council resolution 1737, passed in December 2006, requiring member nations to freeze his assets for his involvement in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
IAEA Chief Warns Iran
IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei today cautioned Iran against wasting “a great chance, perhaps the last chance” to end the nuclear standoff. (AP). Iran and IAEA have agreed on a timetable for Iran to clear up outstanding questions on its nuclear activities.
US intelligence officials have provided IAEA information on an Iranian secret project code-named the Green Salt Project. According to a report published yesterday in The New York Times, Green Salt involves uranium processing, presumably production of uranium metal which is the core of an atomic bomb, as well as production of high explosives and missile warhead. Together, Green Salt if proven to exist would be Iran’s project for building nuclear weapons.
IAEA also wants to know how the Iranians acquired the skill to build two different types of centrifuges, the so-called P-1 and P-2. The centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. Highly enriched uranium (HEU) can then be processed to produce uranium metal.
Iran has always claimed that its nuclear program is for production of electricity. But for nearly 20 years, Iran had consistently misled IAEA and has obstructed the work of its inspectors. Now IAEA chief is telling the Iranians that this is indeed a critical moment for candor.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was more blunt in his assessment this week if the Iranians could not gain the trust of the international community. The alternative, he said, would be “catastrophic: an Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran.”
US intelligence officials have provided IAEA information on an Iranian secret project code-named the Green Salt Project. According to a report published yesterday in The New York Times, Green Salt involves uranium processing, presumably production of uranium metal which is the core of an atomic bomb, as well as production of high explosives and missile warhead. Together, Green Salt if proven to exist would be Iran’s project for building nuclear weapons.
IAEA also wants to know how the Iranians acquired the skill to build two different types of centrifuges, the so-called P-1 and P-2. The centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. Highly enriched uranium (HEU) can then be processed to produce uranium metal.
Iran has always claimed that its nuclear program is for production of electricity. But for nearly 20 years, Iran had consistently misled IAEA and has obstructed the work of its inspectors. Now IAEA chief is telling the Iranians that this is indeed a critical moment for candor.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was more blunt in his assessment this week if the Iranians could not gain the trust of the international community. The alternative, he said, would be “catastrophic: an Iranian bomb or the bombing of Iran.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)