Kilgor
01-30-2006, 05:41 PM
LONDON: Iran has formed a secret team of scientists to infiltrate the UN's nuclear watchdog in Vienna, British media reported yesterday.
London's Daily Telegraph said the team was targeting the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards division to obtain information on the work of inspectors so Iran could conceal the more sensitive areas of its nuclear research.
The operation was being run by the former head of the Iranian parliament's energy committee, Hosein Afarideh.
Mr Afarideh, reported to have close links with Iran's ministry of intelligence, is in regular contact with a team of Iranian nuclear engineers seconded to work at the IAEA's Vienna headquarters, the report said.
According to Western intelligence reports, Mr Afarideh heads a three-man team at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran in Tehran, to prevent more embarrassing disclosures about its nuclear facilities, the Daily Telegraph reported.
In the past, Iran has concealed key facilities from IAEA inspectors, including the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, 160km north of Isfahan. It was forced to admit the existence of Natanz and other secret facilities three years ago after Iranian exile groups provided details of the operation.
Western intelligence officials told the newspaper the Iranians were taking advantage of their access to the IAEA to spy on its inspection procedures so they could conceal sensitive areas of their nuclear operations.
"The Iranians are getting increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of the IAEA's inspections," an official said. "For this reason they are deliberately targeting the IAEA so that they can be better prepared when the inspectors visit their facilities."
The claim came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her first visit to Israel at the weekend to deliver a strong criticism of Iran, saying it threatened not only the Jewish state but also the entire democratic world.
Ms Merkel spoke after meeting Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who expressed Israel's concern at Iran's nuclear program.
Israel, the European Union and the US accuse Iran of trying to build an atom bomb. Tehran denies this.
"I don't see the slightest difference in the views of Germany and Israel," Ms Merkel said. "It is clear that Iran should not get the ability to enrich uranium."
Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence and has said it could use military force to prevent Tehran from getting a bomb.
Senior officials from Germany, France and Britain met their US, Russian and Chinese counterparts in London overnight to discuss Iran.
At the same time, Iranian officials were to meet diplomats from Britain, France and Germany in Brussels, according to a Tehran Foreign Ministry spokesman.
*******, AFP
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17989958%255E2703,00.html
London's Daily Telegraph said the team was targeting the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards division to obtain information on the work of inspectors so Iran could conceal the more sensitive areas of its nuclear research.
The operation was being run by the former head of the Iranian parliament's energy committee, Hosein Afarideh.
Mr Afarideh, reported to have close links with Iran's ministry of intelligence, is in regular contact with a team of Iranian nuclear engineers seconded to work at the IAEA's Vienna headquarters, the report said.
According to Western intelligence reports, Mr Afarideh heads a three-man team at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran in Tehran, to prevent more embarrassing disclosures about its nuclear facilities, the Daily Telegraph reported.
In the past, Iran has concealed key facilities from IAEA inspectors, including the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, 160km north of Isfahan. It was forced to admit the existence of Natanz and other secret facilities three years ago after Iranian exile groups provided details of the operation.
Western intelligence officials told the newspaper the Iranians were taking advantage of their access to the IAEA to spy on its inspection procedures so they could conceal sensitive areas of their nuclear operations.
"The Iranians are getting increasingly concerned about the effectiveness of the IAEA's inspections," an official said. "For this reason they are deliberately targeting the IAEA so that they can be better prepared when the inspectors visit their facilities."
The claim came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel used her first visit to Israel at the weekend to deliver a strong criticism of Iran, saying it threatened not only the Jewish state but also the entire democratic world.
Ms Merkel spoke after meeting Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who expressed Israel's concern at Iran's nuclear program.
Israel, the European Union and the US accuse Iran of trying to build an atom bomb. Tehran denies this.
"I don't see the slightest difference in the views of Germany and Israel," Ms Merkel said. "It is clear that Iran should not get the ability to enrich uranium."
Israel sees Iran's nuclear program as a threat to its existence and has said it could use military force to prevent Tehran from getting a bomb.
Senior officials from Germany, France and Britain met their US, Russian and Chinese counterparts in London overnight to discuss Iran.
At the same time, Iranian officials were to meet diplomats from Britain, France and Germany in Brussels, according to a Tehran Foreign Ministry spokesman.
*******, AFP
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17989958%255E2703,00.html