Nuclear program in Iran tied to Pakistan

[Party of the People]

VIENNA - Evidence discovered in a probe of Iran's secret nuclear program points overwhelmingly to Pakistan as the source of crucial technology that put Iran on a fast track toward becoming a nuclear weapons power, according to U.S. and European officials familiar with the investigation.

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Documents provided by Iran to U.N. nuclear inspectors since early November have exposed the outlines of a vast, secret procurement network that successfully acquired thousands of sensitive parts and tools from numerous countries over a 17-year period. While Iran has not directly identified Pakistan as a supplier, Pakistani individuals and companies are strongly implicated as sources of key blueprints, technical guidance and equipment for a pilot uranium-enrichment plant that was first exposed by Iranian dissidents 18 months ago, government officials and independent weapons experts said.

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In documents and interviews with investigators of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iranian officials have offered detailed accounts of how they obtained sensitive equipment from European, Asian and North American companies. Much of the equipment was routed through a transshipment hub in the Persian Gulf port city of Dubai to conceal the actual destination, according to officials familiar with Iran's disclosures.

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In a new finding, sophisticated laboratory tests by the IAEA detected traces of Soviet-made highly enriched uranium at Iran's Kalaye nuclear facility, a former testing center for uranium-enrichment equipment, knowledgeable officials said. Several distinct types of enriched uranium have been found at the site, the officials added. Although there are other possible explanations, the finding could indicate that Iran obtained some fissile material from a former Soviet state to use in testing its equipment, the officials said.

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http://msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3770729&p1=0

however, please note that the actual source is the Washington Post

[varun]

1. whats new?

its well documented that Pakistan is the worst nuclear proliferator in the world (N. Korea, Iran, and Saudi Arabia..maybe Myanmar, Libya...)

And Bush is still coddling Pakistan as its "frontline" ally.

:eyes:

[Darranar]

2. Interesting article relating to this...

Top Pakistan nuclear scientist quizzed

The Pakistani government has confirmed that the father of its nuclear bomb is being questioned about reports of possible links between the Pakistani and Iranian nuclear programmes.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Masud Khan said Abd al-Qadir Khan was being questioned in connection with "debriefings" of several scientists working at his Khan Research Laboratories.

The minister however denied that the government had placed restrictions on Khan.

"He is too eminent a scientist to undergo a normal debriefing session," he said. "However, some questions have been raised with him in relation to the ongoing debriefing sessions."

Al Jazeera

This being our ally and all, I doubt Bush will care...

[varun]

3. NYT Op-Ed

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/23/opinion/23TUE1.html

Pakistan's Nuclear Commerce

The United States has again been given good reason to wonder whether Pakistan is the trustworthy ally it claims to be. Fresh evidence indicates that it has sold nuclear-weapons secrets to Iran, North Korea and perhaps other countries over the years. Pakistan's military ruler, , insists that he stopped such sales after seizing power four years ago. Yet just last year, American spy satellites detected a Pakistani plane picking up North Korean missile parts thought to be part of a swap for Pakistani nuclear technology. The Bush administration must demand stronger controls over Pakistan's nuclear labs, which seem to have been central to the transfers....

[Darranar]

4. Another interesting article...

Pakistan says nuke secrets may have leaked

Pakistan has admitted that scientists involved in its atom bomb programme may have been driven by "personal ambition or greed" to export technology to Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Masud Khan said Pakistan was determined to get to the bottom of allegations that nuclear technology may have been transferred to Iran.

He said it began questioning scientists from a state-run laboratory set up by the father of its bomb programme, Abd al-Qadir Khan, five to six weeks ago after approaches by the
UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and information from the Iranian government that "pointed to certain individuals".

There are indications that certain individuals might have been motivated by personal ambition or greed. But we have not made a final determination," he said.

Al Jazeera

[varun]

5. so that where Al-Qaeda...

...probably got its radilogical bomb...

its only a matter of time before we see some part of this world contaminated with radiation.

[Darranar]

6. Some more...

Pakistan to Hold Scientists Liable

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 23 — Pakistan on Tuesday promised legal action against people found to have been involved in sharing nuclear secrets with other countries and reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear nonproliferation.

Masood Khan, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference, "There were indications that certain individuals might have been motivated by personal ambition or greed." But he maintained that no final determination had been made.

"If they are found responsible at the end of the debriefing session, we shall take action against such individuals if warranted and if they are found culpable under our law," he added.

On Monday, Pakistan confirmed that Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the developer of its atomic bomb, was being questioned in connection with news reports that the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency was investigating links between Pakistan and Iran. Centrifuge designs used in Iran closely resemble some of those used by Pakistan.

New York Times

[varun]

7. A Q Khan

"...On Monday, Pakistan confirmed that Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the developer of its atomic bomb, was being questioned in connection with news reports that the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency was investigating links between Pakistan and Iran. Centrifuge designs used in Iran closely resemble some of those used by Pakistan.."

A Q Khan has the stature of God in Pakistan. He will never face action...no matter how much his complicity in this proliferation.

the others, if arrested, will be released within months (no one in the Western world would know about it)...just like those tohusands of taliban supporters - arrested after 9-11.

[Darranar]

8. Yes, I saw that...

I'm not very knowledgeable about Pakistani politics, but for a variety of reasons I don't trust Musharraf for a moment..