Tehran breaks U.N. seals on nukes

The Washington Times ^ | July 28, 2004 | David R. Sands

[neverdem]

Iran has broken seals placed on nuclear centrifuges by U.N. inspectors and resumed work on the equipment, raising fresh fears that a deal to keep Tehran from joining the world's nuclear-armed powers has collapsed.

Diplomats at the Vienna, Austria-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' lead agency on nuclear proliferation, confirmed yesterday that Iran had resumed construction of centrifuges, a key part of the nation's nuclear program.

The equipment can be used to produce the material needed for atomic bombs. Iranian officials reportedly broke the IAEA seals on the centrifuge equipment late last month.

Diplomats told reporters that Iran has stopped short of using the centrifuges to begin production of enriched uranium for the bombs, a step that clearly would violate Iran's obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said U.S. officials had not confirmed the Iranian move independently but that it fit with what the Bush administration considers a clear pattern of cheating by Iran's Islamic government on its nuclear pledges.

[Freesofar]

Maybe Kerry can get the U.N. to go back and make them put the seals back on.

Lets all vote for Kerry, our international cooperation liasion

[Billthedrill]

The resumption of centrifuge construction also is a direct challenge to the efforts of Britain, France and Germany, which struck a deal with Tehran in October to halt efforts to build the centrifuges or seek to enrich uranium.

Nothing is being challenged here. Those efforts are simply being ignored, as everyone over the age of twelve knew they would be. The Iranians are making hay prior to the U.S. elections - nothing else in the world matters at the moment, which I am sure incenses Brussels and Paris, and so what?

Will the Iranians have a nuclear device by November? Probably not. Will they have a dispersed, functioning program? My guess is that they already do or they wouldn't be as public as this, which risks Israeli direct action. Will the UN intervene?

OK, I'm only joking with that last question.

[Calpernia]

ping

[smonk]

Maybe Kerry can get the U.N. to go back and make them put the seals back on.

all he has to do is "reach out". According to that rank amateur, that's all it takes. The impotent UN will be passing resolutions against iran 10 years from now after they test their first ICBM if kerry wins in november.

I'm sure that just because kerry asks them, the iranians will happily and cheerfully give up their nuclear weapons designs.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. I expect Israel and the USA will be taking care of business .. since the rest of the world is too chicken .. AGAIN!!

[Robe]

Will the Iranians have a nuclear device by November? Probably not.

Will the Iranians have a nuclear device after the Bush inauguration?.... definately not!!!(OK... I can hope can't I)

[SunkenCiv]

Well said. I don't think Israel will intervene yet, but by saying they will they've put the US, UN, and EU on notice that someone had better do something or the whole works will go up in flames. There's a media and political drumbeat in the US, UN, and even the EU to slap sanctions or impose resolutions (ooh, I'm all a-twitter) on Iran over this issue. Within Iran the opposition to the gov't is not growing, because it can't possibly grow any more. The people want the theocracy removed and the phony constitution burned -- but what they're willing to do to accomplish that varies a great deal. An attack by Israel would frog up the possibility of regime change in Iran.

[DoctorZIn]

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