Tehran doubled production capacity at the Fordo nuclear site, IAEA reports
Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, found that Iran doubled the production capacity of the Fordo nuclear site, near Qom, in the country's north.
According to its latest quarterly report, Iran had "significantly hampered" the agency's ability to inspect the Parchin military site, which experts suspect to be involved in research on the military applications of nuclear technology.
For many Western nations, Israel and others in the international community, Iran's clerical regime is actually developing a nuclear capability.
According to the IAEA report as of 18 August the Fordo facility had about 2,000 uranium-enrichment centrifuges installed, compared with around 1,000 in May. Only about 700 are operating, however.
Enriched uranium can be used for peaceful purposes but also, at highly concentrated purities, for nuclear weapons. In May, UN nuclear inspectors found traces of uranium enriched at 27 per cent at the site, something Iran said was accidental. Analysts say 27 per cent would bring Iran closer to making weapons-grade uranium.
In Thursday's report, the IAEA also said the Parchin site had been "sanitised" and that Iran had "been conducting activities at that location that will significantly hamper the agency's ability to conduct effective verification", if inspectors were granted access.
Fears of a nuclear Iran go back to the 1970s when the shah was still in power. When the country came under Khomeini, and even more Khamenei and Ahmadinejad, the fear of an Iranian nuclear potential increased further, especially in Israel, which has not ruled out a military attack.
Iran has always denied that it wants to develop a nuclear military capability, insisting in the peaceful nature of his programme. Talks between Iran, IAEA and the 5+1 group have been held in recent years but without tangible results.
According to another report IAEA released last year, there was evidence of military-related nuclear activities in Iran.
In March of this year, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said his agency was deeply concerned that Iran was possibly hiding military-related nuclear research, especially at the Parchin site, south-east of Tehran.
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