IAEA inspectors found traces of highly enriched uranium in Iran

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IAEA inspectors assert that they found highly enriched uranium traces in Iran, Ekho Moskvy radio broadcasted on May 12. The world community, according to the information, has not been aware that this kind of uranium was available in Iran. Iranian authorities are refuting the accusation.

A group of IAEA inspectors found traces of highly enriched uranium while it was examining one of the abandoned nuclear plants in Iran. Tehran had not informed the UN about the availability of this grade of uranium on its territory. It is used not for peaceful purposes but for producing nuclear weapons. The samples are still being examined, and a still more extensive examination program will be started this weekend by an IAEA senior team of inspectors.

IAEA has not made any oficial statements so far. Neither has it commented on when the uranium traces were found or what is the grade of their enrichment. However, diplomats who asked not to be identified said that the samples hardly originate from Iran. They could had entered Iran with the contaminated equipment bought in the Pakistani black market. The samples could allegedly be part of material used for the 'dirty bomb' at the Lavizan research center.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi rushed to make a statement on Iranian state TV channel. He said that IAEA inspectors' allegations are groundless and immaterial. “They are not based on credible evidence and remind of the agency's previous charges that were later dismissed by IAEA itself.”

The research center in Lavizan was closed and completely demolished in 2004.