Iranian Confirms Underground Nuke Plant

AP/MSNBC ^ | 03/07/2005 | AP

[drt1]

But official says defensive measures don't signal weapons program - NATANZ, Iran - An Iranian official confirmed Monday that a uranium enrichment plant in central Iran is underground as a protection against airstrikes, but insisted that is not a sign the program aims to produce nuclear weapons.

U.S. officials have said building nuclear facilities underground is inconsistent with Iran’s contention its atomic program is intended only for the generation of electricity. The Iranians deny Washington’s accusation that they are trying to build nuclear weapons.

Ali Akbar Salehi, a nuclear affairs adviser to the foreign minister, said U.S. and Israeli threats forced Iran to take precautions to protect its technology, including the string of centrifuges used to enrich uranium — a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors that generate electricity but also make material suitable for atomic warheads.....

[drt1]

Oh no, no intentions for Nukes here. /sarc

[nuconvert]

protection against airstrikes, yeah, that's the ticket......

[KenL]

Well, it's not like Iran would ever lie about anything ...

Oh, wait ...

[cmsgop]

Bold and Blusterous Statement, That tells me they have a few.

[drt1]

Yeah. I thought all 'Peaceful' nuclear power plants were underground. The US actually has over 2000 such plants but almost all are buried and top secret. /sarc

[randog]

...protection against airstrikes...

And land sharks.

[nuconvert]

Candygram

[pissant]

I'm glad they don't have warheads stored there. I don't want the secondary explosions to wipe out all the people when we destoy the underground installation....

[conservativecorner]

I guess when they strike Israel or another friendly nation to the US, the UN and Europe will be 100% positive that Iran did indeed have a clandestine nuclear program. Everyone damn well knows they are racing to get their bloody hands on a nuclear weapon. Must we repeat the N. Korea affair for a second time? I wonder what a couple of MOAB bombs would do to their underground facilities?

[church16]

They are just asking for it. Every time GW Bush says "Don't do X or I'll do Y..." they never believe him. Reference the Taliban, Saddam and Arafat.

He's already said it would be "unacceptable" for Iran to aquire nukes. Yet once again they don't believe him. Stop the madness folks, he's serious.

Oh, and by the way, there's more than one way to take out a "hardened bunker". Anyone who believes they are impenetrable is out of touch with current technology. Unless the people of Iran stop these crazy mullahs we'll be at war with them within 6-9 months. Anyone want to bet beers on it?

[festus]

Don't these mullahs and sheiks know to just call 1-800-NUKE-ME ?

[meatloaf]

FWIW, the Iranians have an underground nuclear power plant.