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Iran: Photos Show Building at Nuclear Sites, Group Says According to satellite photographs, Iran is working at two sites to construct nuclear facilities that could be used to develop nuclear weapons, the Institute for Science and International Security said in a report released yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 20). By interpreting satellite imagery, the institute has determined that one of the sites, located near the city of Arak, appears to be a heavy-water production facility under construction, the report says. The existence of such a facility increases concerns that Iran might also be building a nuclear reactor moderated by heavy water, ISIS said, adding that no signs of such a reactor have been located. The Bushehr nuclear reactor, which Iran is currently building with aid from Russia, does not use heavy water, the report says (see GSN, Oct. 22). Furthermore, Iran’s existing research reactors do not use enough heavy water to justify creating a heavy-water plant, it adds. Meanwhile, the satellite imagery appears to contradict claims made by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran, which has said that Tehran is building a nuclear fuel fabrication facility at a site called Natanz, 25 miles southeast of the city of Kashan, the institute said (see GSN, Aug. 15). Construction at Natanz appears to be for a uranium enrichment plant, possibly employing gas centrifuge technology, the ISIS report says, adding that the facility does not appear to be in operation. IAEA Under a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran does not have to open any new nuclear facility to agency inspections until six months before introducing nuclear materials, the ISIS report says (Institute for Science and International Security release, Dec. 12). The agency learned of the new facilities in August from satellite imagery, according to IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, and Iranian officials confirmed their existence in September to ElBaradei. At that time, they invited ElBaradei to visit the sites this week, but that visit was postponed until February, when ElBaradei will visit with a team of technical experts, he said on CNN this morning (Greg Webb, GSN, Dec. 13). Iranian Response In an interview with CNN yesterday, Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Javad Zarif said that his country is not developing nuclear weapons. “No. Absolutely not,” Zarif said in response to a question on whether Iran is developing a nuclear weapons program. “Iran is a member of the [Nuclear] Nonproliferation Treaty. We have safeguard agreements with the IAEA. Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction do not have a place in our defense doctrine. We have stated that clearly. And we have shown it,” he added. Iran has the right to develop a peaceful civilian nuclear program, Zarif said. “We do have a right to have nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. And that we have asserted very forcefully,” Zarif said. “And we will continue to carry out our research and our activities in the area of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” he added. Zarif dismissed suggestions that Iran might be working to develop a clandestine nuclear program. “There is nothing hidden about it,” Zarif said. “Because if we wanted to have sort of a clandestine nuclear program, we wouldn’t come out in public and stating it is our right and this is our policy to pursue a nuclear program for peaceful purposes,” he added (CNN.com, Dec. 13). For further information, see: States Parties to the NPT (U.N.)
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