Iran says IAEA nuclear bomb probe is ‘closed’

The Agency’s 16-page report examined each and every one of the 12 outstanding issues and concluded: “The Agency assesses that, before the end of 2003, an organizational structure was in place in Iran suitable for the coordination of a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device”.

State department spoke-sman Mark Toner said that the United Nations watchdog had confirmed Washington’s long-standing allegation that Tehran had once been working on a nuclear bomb, but he added that Iran had cooperated adequately with IAEA investigators. The report underscores that “EBW detonators developed by Iran have characteristics relevant to a nuclear explosive device” and that “the MPI technology developed by Iran has characteristics relevant to a nuclear explosive device”.

But the IAEA said Iran’s “activities did not advance beyond feasibility and scientific studies, and the acquisition of certain relevant technical competences and capabilities”.

On October 18, Iran, the USA and other world powers involved in nuclear negotiations formally launched efforts to carry out provisions in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement reached in July.

Davenport added: “The agency will continue to keep Iran under a microscope to ensure that its activities in the future remain peaceful”.

This report brushes aside the regime’s claims to the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and Khamenei’s hollow fatwa that the nuclear weapon is haram (forbidden by Islamic law).

As for the content of the IAEA report, “the fabricated case (of PMDs), which caused problems for us will be closed forever”, he was quoted as saying.

The Iranian official stressed that despite the claims referring to an unannounced nuclear fuel cycle in addition to Natanz and Fordow sites, the report officially annuls those claims assuring there is no sign of an undeclared fuel cycle in Iran.

Time and again, the agency seemed close to rejecting Iranian arguments that its experimentation was for civilian purposes.

The report obtained by Reuters was required und-er a July deal between Te-hran and six major powers that provides for sanctions against Iran to be lifted in exchange for res-trictions being placed on the country’s nuclear acti-vities.

Director General of IAEA Yukiya Amano presented his report on Iran’s past and present nuclear program to Board of Governors on Wednesday evening.

He said Iran now considers the issue of possible military dimensions (PMD) of its program closed and the IAEA should close that file at its December 15 board meeting, at which it is due to discuss the report.