Report Documents Iran's Reticence on Nuclear Disclosure

LA Times:

Iran has failed to provide crucial information about its efforts to obtain nuclear technology and has restarted some activities it had suspended under an agreement with the European Union, according to a report issued Friday by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

Although the report makes no new accusations against Iran, it documents the nation's continuing unwillingness to fully explain its nuclear activities. READ MORE

The report, sent to members of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors, helps provide the basis for intensive diplomatic maneuvering by the EU and the United States to persuade the board to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible censure.

The IAEA board will meet Sept. 19 in Vienna. European officials said that unless Iran suspended nuclear activities again, they had little choice but to seek a referral to the Security Council.

One European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the report revealed a "policy of concealment" on Iran's part.

"It seems to me this report is unlikely to alter the European view that a report to the Security Council will be necessary when the board meets, unless between now and Sept. 19, Iran reestablishes full suspension."

The agency stated that it remained unable to "conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials."

"In view of the fact that the agency still isn't in a position to clarify some of the most important outstanding issues after 2 1/2 years of intensive inspections and investigations, Iran's full transparency is overdue," the report says.

However, senior officials close to the agency seemed largely convinced that traces of highly enriched uranium found in centrifuges in Iran were left over from the previous user of the equipment, Pakistan, and were not signs that Iran had been able to produce highly enriched uranium.

Iran's suspension of all nuclear activities was the basis for negotiations with the European Union for economic aid, technological assistance and security guarantees. Those negotiations came to a halt in August when Iran announced that it was restarting the plant in Esfahan where it processes uranium yellowcake into gas, an early step in the fuel cycle that can lead to the production of highly enriched uranium, which can be used in bombs.

"The whole [Esfahan plant] is operating," said a senior official close to the nuclear agency.

Typically, the IAEA board strives for consensus, but many countries are reluctant to censure Iran because they too would like to develop nuclear fuel cycles to generate electricity. They fear setting a precedent that could limit their own pursuit of nuclear energy.

Because the EU referral request appeared unlikely to gain a consensus, officials in the bloc are considering asking for a vote, thus forcing countries to take a public position on Iran's activities.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said Friday that the country would continue to cooperate with the IAEA.

"This report has both positive and negative points," Ali Larijani told state television. "Because of the close cooperation with the agency … fortunately many of the questions have been answered from a legal and technical point of view.

"There are some minor questions remaining, and our cooperation with the agency will continue in order to answer those questions," he added.

Iran maintains that it wants to acquire nuclear technology for the purpose of generating electricity. However, because many aspects of its program had been shrouded in secrecy until some of the activities were unmasked by an exile group in 2002, the United States and other Western countries suspect that Iran might be trying to build a bomb.

Questions remain about the extent of Iran's efforts to obtain uranium enrichment equipment, particularly centrifuges, and how far Iran has advanced in its efforts to develop a nuclear fuel cycle.

The government and Iranian companies appear to have entertained several offers to sell them fuel cycle designs and equipment, but it is unclear how much equipment was obtained and how much work was actually done. The report says there is still little information about any work Iran may have done between 1995 and 2002.

Also unclear is what activities Iran might have undertaken at sites in Lavisan-Shian and Parchin. The Lavisan-Shian site was razed before IAEA experts could inspect it, and agency requests to interview scientists and others who worked there have gone unanswered.

The agency also requested permission to undertake additional inspections at Parchin, a military installation, but received no response.

The report urges Iran to be more forthcoming.

"Given Iran's past concealment efforts over many years … transparency measures should extend beyond the formal requirements … and should include access to individuals, documentation on procurement and dual-use equipment," it says.