DAR AL HARB / ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: THE WEST SELF IMPOSED IMPOTENCE ON THE ONE HAND, IRAN'S NUCLEAR JIHAD ON THE OTHER AND THE WINNER WILL BE?!?

IRAN MAKING 'NUKE BOMB' FUEL
CHILLING SECRET REPORT
By MARK HEINRICH

April 19, 2007 -- VIENNA, Austria - Iran has begun producing nuclear fuel in its underground uranium-enrichment plant, according to a confidential document from the U.N. atomic watchdog.

The document, obtained yesterday by news services, said Tehran had started up 1,312 centrifuge machines, divided into eight cascades, or networks, in the Natanz complex, in an accelerating campaign to lay a basis for "industrial scale" enrichment.

Both moves flew in the face of U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government stop enriching uranium over fears that its professed civilian nuclear-power program is a cover for mastering the means to build atomic bombs.

Tehran says it seeks only nuclear-generated electricity. But its past concealment of sensitive enrichment research from the International Atomic Energy Agency and continued stonewalling of IAEA inquiries have shaken confidence in its intentions.

Iran announced April 9 that it had begun enriching in Natanz, ramping up from a limited research operation above ground. But diplomats treated the disclosure skeptically, pending word from the IAEA.

To that end, the document said, IAEA inspectors conducted a "design information verification" at the plant on April 15 and 16, and were informed that eight cascades - 1,312 centrifuges in all - were running and "some" uranium was being fed into them.

The three-paragraph note by IAEA deputy director Olli Heinonen also said Iran had stopped letting inspectors verify design work at the Arak heavy-water reactor, under construction and due for start-up in 2009.
Major powers see the reactor as a nuclear proliferation risk, as it could be used to produce plutonium for the core of nuclear bombs, although Iran says it has only peaceful purposes in mind, such as production of radio-isotopes for medical care.

Iran blocked IAEA access to Arak under its decision a few weeks ago to stop giving inspectors early design details on future nuclear facilities. The move retaliated for a March U.N. resolution widening sanctions on Iran over its nuclear defiance.

In his letter to Iran's IAEA envoy, Heinonen indicated that Tehran was not living up to transparency commitments by refusing to allow short-notice inspectors or camera surveillance at Natanz and restricting access to Arak.

Iran says such steps are not covered by its basic safeguards agreement with the IAEA and it is not legally bound to them.

Heinonen urged Iran to "reconsider" its reduction of cooperation with the IAEA to a legal minimum, well below what the agency sees as essential to clearing up longstanding questions about the nature of the Iranian nuclear program.

Tehran vowed Tuesday to pursue plans to heighten its uranium-enrichment capacity and said U.N. sanctions would not hamper centrifuge installation in the Natanz complex, flanked by anti-aircraft guns against a feared U.S. attack.

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Pertinent Links:

1) IRAN MAKING 'NUKE BOMB' FUEL