Iran working on nuclear bomb 'missing link'
Iran working on final component of nuclear bomb since 2007, intelligence obtained by Times reveals
Also In The News
|
By Adam Leveridge
Jenson Button took the runner-up spot at the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony in Sheffield, in the same week as being crowned the 2009 formula one world champion at an FIA gala in Monaco. |  |
Monday, 14, Dec 2009 05:40
By Matthew Champion.
Iran has been working on the final component of a nuclear bomb since 2007; intelligence obtained by a UK newspaper has reportedly shown.
According to the Times, confidential documents from an Asian intelligence service show Tehran was constructing a neutron initiator - which triggers a nuclear explosion - two years ago.
The notes, translated from Farsi into English, include a reference to uranium deuteride, which reportedly has no other use than for a nuclear weapon.
The same substance was used in Pakistan's nuclear bomb, which Iran obtained the blueprint of.
Sanctions against Iran are being discussed at the United Nations this week for its continued reluctance to comply with international law over its nuclear programme.
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly insisted the country's uranium enrichment is for peaceable purposes, but western nations led by the US, UK and France, as well as Israel, accuse it of developing nuclear weapons technology.
"Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application," David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.
"This is a very strong indicator of weapons work."
A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We do not comment on intelligence, but our concerns about Iran's nuclear programme are clear. Obviously this document, if authentic, raises serious questions about Iran's intentions."
President Ahmadinejad's claims of an entirely civilian nuclear programme were thrown into doubt with the discovery of a previously-unknown facility at Qom.
He has since revealed Iran is constructing ten other such plants for civilian energy purposes.