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Iran nuke site said to be inside a mountain |
Iranian Vice President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi
has revealed that one of its uranium enrichment facilities is inside a mountain
next to a military site to ensure continuity of nuclear activities in case of
an attack. Salehi also said that Iran is willing to have a general discussion
about nuclear technology in Geneva but will not give up its right to uranium enrichment
and conversion, CBS News reports. "We will never bargain over our sovereign right,"
said Salehi. Salehi reiterated that Iran is in talks with the International Atomic
Energy Agency to set a timetable "soon" for an inspection of the site near the
holy city of Qom, but said the country did not feel bound by a U.S. demand to
allow the inspection within a month. "We are working out the timetable. It could
be sooner than a month or later," he added. He said the nuclear facility is next
to a military compound of the Revolutionary Guard, Iran's most powerful military
force, equipped with an air defense system. Salehi also said President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad told him Tuesday he named the enrichment plant "Meshkat," which means
Lantern. Details about the newly revealed site and the fact that Iran kept its
construction secret have raised more suspicion among experts and Western governments
that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing weapons - something Tehran has
long denied. The U.S. and its allies have strongly condemned Iran over the site
and demanded it immediately make a full disclosure on its nuclear activities or
face harsher international sanctions. President Barack Obama's administration
is planning to push for new U.N. sanctions against Iran, targeting its energy,
financial and telecommunications sectors if it does not comply with international
demands to come clean about its nuclear program, according to U.S. officials.
Iran's decision to disclose details about its hidden nuclear site and allow the
IAEA to inspect it could be an attempt to defuse international anger that the
U.S. could harness in pushing through stronger sanctions. Salehi said the site
was selected after a careful study by the authorities. He said it was a formerly
an ammunition depot before his agency took control of it a year ago and started
construction that will eventually house a uranium enrichment plant. He said the
only connection between the Qom nuclear facility and the Guard is the Guard would
protect it against possible attacks. Salehi said Iran will officially inform the
IAEA of details about the site at a later date. |
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