Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Military Space News .




NUKEWARS
Iran addresses nuclear bomb allegations for first time: IAEA
by Staff Writers
Vienna (AFP) May 23, 2014


Iran has for the first time in six years addressed concerns about the so-called "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear programme, a new IAEA report showed Friday.

Tehran handed over information related to detonators that can be used for several purposes but also for a nuclear weapon under a key November interim nuclear deal, the quarterly report, seen by AFP, showed.

In technical meetings with the UN atomic watchdog in late April and earlier this week in Iran, Tehran provided "information and explanations, including showing documents, to substantiate its stated need and application of EBW (Explosive Bridge Wire detonators)," the report by IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano for member states said.

"Iran showed information to the agency that simultaneous firing of EBW was tested for a civilian application," it went on.

"This is the first time that Iran has engaged in a technical exchange with the agency on this or any other of the outstanding issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme since 2008."

The EBW issue was part of seven "practical measures" that Iran agreed with world powers under a November interim deal and due to be fulfilled by May 15.

All have been implemented, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in its report, indicating that Iran was sticking to its commitments.

Tehran agreed in November with the so-called P5+1 powers -- the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- to roll back its nuclear programme to make it virtually impossible to make an atomic bomb in exchange for some relief from biting international sanctions.

The "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear programme have been of concern to the international community for years.

In November 2011, the IAEA reported it had intelligence that Iran had until 2003 and possibly since then conducted research into developing nuclear weapons.

Iran on the other hand insists its nuclear programme is merely for peaceful, civilian purposes.

- Uranium stockpile being converted -

Under the November deal, Iran also agreed to convert and dilute its entire stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, making it more difficult to quickly produce the weapons-grade material needed for a bomb.

Of this stockpile, 38.4 kilogrammes of 20-percent enriched uranium was still awaiting conversion -- down from 160.6 kg in February -- the report said.

Iran has until July 20 to complete this work.

The enrichment programme otherwise remains frozen, with no uranium enriched to levels above five-percent and no new centrifuges installed at its enrichment facilities, the IAEA found.

Enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear fuel but also to make the core of an atomic bomb.

A senior official close to the Iran dossier said Friday that it was "still too early" to say if the latest information provided by Iran -- including on the detonators -- was credible, but welcomed the atmosphere during discussions between the UN agency and its member state.

"We have a lot of new information, which is a good thing... the engagement and cooperation has been improving all the time. In that respect that's a positive developement and a positive step forward."

For Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association, the IAEA report showed "that Tehran is fulfilling its obligations and willing to be more transparent about its nuclear activities."

The report comes a week after a fourth round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna, which ended with no apparent progress towards a comprehensive deal over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Failure to reach a deal by July 20 could spark a conflict -- neither Israel nor the US have ruled out taking military action -- and set the stage for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani insisted on Thursday however that a timely deal by the end of July was "very likely."

.


Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





NUKEWARS
IAEA, Iran make progress on nuclear bomb probe
Vienna (AFP) May 21, 2014
Iran has agreed to address some of the many long-held allegations that it conducted research into making nuclear weapons before 2003 and possibly since, the UN atomic watchdog said Wednesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran, which denies ever having sought nuclear weapons, has undertaken to implement five new "practical measures" by August 25. These included two ste ... read more


NUKEWARS
Canadian missile defense radar to be operated, maintained by Raytheon

Propulsion Module For SBIRS GEO-4 Satellite Completed

Canada revisiting ballistic missile defense: official

South Korea orders missile defense systems from ATK

NUKEWARS
Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Javelin Firing From Turret in UK Test

Lockheed Martin weapons turret demonstrated with missile system

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets for Jordan

Raytheon's JSOW scores direct hits in back-to-back flight tests

NUKEWARS
Companies tout their jointly developed solar/electric powered drone

Navy issues task order for more Aerosonde SUAS work

Northrop Grumman, RMIT Studying Operation of UAVs in Australia

Lockheed Martin Introduces Latest Addition to Small UAV Family

NUKEWARS
Communications upgrade for B-52 bombers

Harris to provide IT service and support for homeland security

Malaysia, Inmarsat to release satellite data on MH370

Airbus boosts communication capability for British ships

NUKEWARS
Lockheed Martin receives orders for Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds

Finland's Millog Oy producing target acquisition system

Raytheon delivers 1000th Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer to USAF

Poland receives surplus German tanks

NUKEWARS
After wars, US struggles to provide care for vets

US plans nearly $1 billion arms deal with Iraq

Foreign Military Sales deal in works for Sidewinder missiles

Pentagon chief to head to Saudi, Israel next week

NUKEWARS
China leader warns US, others over Asian security

US sends in another warship ahead of Ukraine vote

Russia-China defense cooperation major factor for world security

Chinese pandas arrive in Malaysia after delay over MH370

NUKEWARS
Bending helps to control nanomaterials

Nanoscale heat flow predictions

Harnessing Magnetic Vortices for Making Nanoscale Antennas

New method for measuring the temperature of nanoscale objects discovered




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.