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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Diplomatic sources say radioactive materials discovered in Tehran facility, but not enriched to level needed for weapons
Samples taken by the United Nations nuclear watchdog at a facility in Tehran showed traces of uranium that Iran has yet to explain, two unnamed diplomats told Reuters news agency, although they could not say whether the materials predated the 2015 nuclear deal, or were more recent.
The news comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called on Cornel Feruta, acting chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency and his inspectors "to observe the principles of professional work, maintain confidentiality of activities, and keep doing its duties impartially".
Tehran has not yet responded to the IAEA's specific request for answers, according to the diplomats interviewed by Reuters, stoking more tensions between Washington and Tehran. Reuters did not identify the nationalities of the two diplomats.
Reuters first reported in April that the IAEA, which is policing the nuclear deal, had inspected the site - a step it had said it takes "only when necessary" - and environmental samples were taken there were sent for analysis.
Those traces were of uranium, the diplomats said - the same element Iran is enriching and one of only two fissile elements that can make the core of a nuclear bomb.
But since Iran has not yet given any to the IAEA it is hard to verify the particles' origin, and it is also not clear whether the traces are remnants of material or activities that predate the landmark 2015 deal or more recent, the diplomats say.
(Score: 2) by Pav on Wednesday September 11 2019, @01:45AM
Actually.... Iran is probably more secular than the USA, though of course noone inside or outside of Iran can admit that - admission into the civil service depends on ones "strong religious commitment" for instance. It's probably the same reason England is so secular - after overthrowing their monarchy, and then a reign of terror by religious extremists (in Englands case the puritans) the population become quite leery regarding religion... especially where it intersects with politics. In Englands case the puritans were thrown from power and reinstalled their monarchy. The puritans were suppessed, and in search of their promised land had a hand in founding the colonies that came to be the USA. While Iran seems very religious, and indeed a certain proportion of the population is (especially in the north) the regime has quite successfully discredited the idea of a religious dictatorship. Believe it or not the Shah has become popular again, especially as he is making noises about a secular democracy with him as head of state. Mike Pompeo doesn't need a popular government though... he just needs an unpopular puppet that needs US support enough to provide cheap oil. A big reason why Irans religious dictatorship wasn't overthrown quite quickly was because of the US supported Iraqi invasion - the Iranian religious dictatorship successfully repelled Saddam and his (tacitly supported) chemical weapon attacks. This also gave the mulahs time to install their republican guard militia above the (largely secular) military.