Diplomats: Iran Bought Metal Useable in Atom Bombs

Reuters ^ | Fri Dec 3, 2004 | Louis Charbonneau

[West Coast Conservative]

Intelligence reports accuse Iran of buying large amounts of a metal that has many civilian uses but which some U.S. and other countries' officials believe Tehran wanted exclusively for an atomic bomb, diplomats say.

Washington says oil-rich Iran is developing atomic weapons under cover of a nuclear energy program. Tehran denies this, insisting its atomic ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity.

One non-U.S. diplomat, citing intelligence gathered by his country, said Iran bought "huge amounts of beryllium from a number of countries" but gave no details on the amount or states involved.

Beryllium has a long list of innocent uses, such as in spark plugs and X-ray equipment. However, the metal can also be combined with polonium-210 (Po-210), a substance Iran is known to have worked with, to initiate the chain reaction in a bomb.

Other diplomats and one U.S. official -- all speaking on condition of anonymity -- said they had intelligence Iran had acquired and worked with beryllium.

They also said the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency knew about it but had withheld the information from the IAEA board of governors.

This has annoyed the United States, whose officials have complained privately that IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei does not always follow up credible intelligence provided to his agency.

"The U.S. is often making mischief, but they obviously really believe there's something there," David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and head of a Washington-based think-tank told Reuters about the beryllium question.

[caisson71]

If we now realize the extent of corruption in the UN, our two-faced "allies" (France, Germany, Belgium, etc) who plot against us and the intent of Muslims to eliminate US and our way of life, what is so difficult about realizing Iran's plans to go nuclear or the cooperation of our allies toward their success?

[Ancesthntr]

Iran has obviously spent billions or tens of billions to develop a secret nuclear infrastructure, as well as to develop nuclear capable rockets that can reach Europe (to say nothing of Israel and every US base in the area).

So, quite naturally, one can only assume that the Iranians want the beryllium to make more durable hairbrushes.

[JFK_Lib]

We *really* need to take out those reactors before this is too late.

Khameni has no respect for the lives of Muslims, much less us kafars.

[JasonC]

"the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency knew about it but had withheld the information"

And we know he knew, because we told him. He is flacking for the crooks he is supposed to be policing. This is all a farce, and serves only to demonstrate once again how hollow all the claims to civilization on the part of international institutions and European countries actually is. The next holocaust will be brought to you by the same head in the sand nonsense that produced the last one.

[mewzilla]

They also said the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency knew about it but had withheld the information from the IAEA board of governors.

Is that ElBaradei? Gee, now why would he do something like that...?

[F16Fighter]

"We still wonder whether Iran ever worked with beryllium, which combined with Po-210 forms a neutron source that can be used for initiating a nuclear weapon," Jackie Sanders said.

Why don't we just ask the French?

They and Iran are obviously in cahootz, just as France and Chirac were up to their eyeballs with Saddam, and Iraqi blood.

[SC Swamp Fox]

We *really* need to take out those reactors before this is too late.

It would be a real shame if the Iranians had a "work accident" in their nuke labs. I wonder if the Navy or Air Force could "loan" the CIA a cruise missle to make it so.

[endthematrix]

Remember Iraq, the worlds foremost leader in eradicating kidney stones? After the "embargo" they gobbled up dual-use medical equipment for atomic switches.