Posted on 05/13/2012 12:27:25 AM PDT by Olog-hai
An exiled Iranian opposition group said on Saturday that Iran has some 60 scientists and engineers involved in a concerted and expanding program to develop nuclear weapons under defense ministry auspices.
However, diplomats say the National Council of Resistance of Iran has had a spotty record with allegations about Iran's nuclear work since exposing a secret uranium enrichment plant at Natanz in 2002. A top U.S. nuclear expert said the NCRI report, like previous ones, should be treated with great skepticism.
Its latest report, whose details could not be verified, appeared timed to encourage a tougher line at talks with Iran the U.N. nuclear watchdog will have in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday and six world powers will hold in Baghdad on May 23.
But it clashed with the assessment of U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials that Iran has not decided whether to "weaponries" its enrichment program. Tehran says it is refining uranium solely for peaceful energy.
In the six-page report shown to Reuters, the NCRI cited sources in the Iranian government and military as saying some 60 scientists were pursuing bomb-relevant research in 11 agencies operating clandestinely under defense ministry control.
"Information … shows that the clerical regime has expanded the organization responsible for nuclear weapons development," the report said. "This finding reveals a complete and elaborate, and highly … secret research structure and a network for procurement of the required parts and equipment. So far, the identities of 60 directors and experts working in various parts of the New Defense Research Organization and 11 institutions and companies affiliated with it have been detailed," the report went on. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Iran going nuclear is never good. How about Pakistan which already has 100 nukes and is politically much more unstable than Iran???
It is not just Taliban in Pakistan, there are a host of insurgent terrorist groups operating in Pakistan. The terror attack on Mumbai was not a Taliban operation. The nukes in Pakistan are one takeover away by Islamist groups.
Pakistan has a revolving door between dictatorship and democratic elections. Corruption is the rule and 70% of people have favorable attitude towards Osama like people.
Thanks Olog-hai.
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