Iran's Nuclear Program

Voice of America:

The United States and other countries believe that oil-and-gas rich Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a peaceful energy program. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says there is a "litany of questions" that need to be answered:

"There are still open questions about the history and scope of Iran's P1 and P2 centrifuge program and the extent of Iran's dealings with the clandestine nuclear procurement networks. There are still questions separately about their pursuit of a plutonium route to a nuclear weapon, separate from the highly enriched-uranium route. There are questions about Iran's formerly secret uranium mine at Gchine." READ MORE

Mr. McCormack cited other questions as well:

"Whether Iran is still refusing access to allow the I-A-E-A to investigate several Iranian officials whom the I-A-E-A believes may be involved in suspicious nuclear-related procurement. Whether Iran is addressing the I-A-E-A's concerns about why Iran bulldozed the Lavizan facility to the ground before allowing the I-A-E-A to visit the site. Whether Iran has provided satisfactory answers regarding its procurement interest in hot cells for the Arak heavy water reactor that would be well-suited for plutonium separation. Again, a separate track to a nuclear weapon. And whether Iran has answered the I-A-E-A concerns about the extent of the Iranian military's role in Iran's nuclear program."

For years, Iran has intentionally misled the International Atomic Energy Agency, or I-A-E-A, and the rest of the world about the nature of its nuclear program, said U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. "It is up to Iran to answer these questions."

The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.