Arms Experts Correct the Record on Iran Uranium Claims

"Experts at the nonpartisan Arms Control Association (ACA) urged senior U.S. officials and the media to exhibit greater care to accurately state what is known about Iran's nuclear capabilities. The experts highlighted the confusion created over the weekend by inaccurate portrayals of the type of nuclear material Iran has produced which suggested that Tehran was closer to a nuclear weapon than public U.S. intelligence and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports indicate."

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Arms Experts Correct the Record on Iran Uranium Claims

Iran has enough nuclear fuel to make bomb: U.S.

Iran has enough nuclear fuel to make bomb: U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes Iran has stockpiled enough nuclear fuel to make a bomb, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said on Sunday.

"We think they do, quite frankly," Mullen said on CNN's "State of the Union" program when asked whether Iran has enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.

"And Iran having nuclear weapons, I've believed for a long time, is a very very bad outcome -- for the region and for the world," Mullen said.
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Iran has enough nuclear fuel to make bomb: U.S.

Report: U.S. Rejected Israeli Plea To Attack Iran Nuclear Facilities

Report: U.S. Rejected Israeli Plea To Attack Iran Nuclear Facilities
President Bush rejected several Israeli requests last year for weapons and permission for a potential airstrike inside Iran, according to the author of an investigative report.

Israel approached the White House in early 2008 with three requests for an attack on Iran’s main nuclear complex, said New York Times reporter David Sanger. His article appears in the newspaper on Sunday.

According to Sanger, Israel wanted specialized bunker-busting bombs, equipment to help refuel planes making flights into Iran and permission to fly over Iraq to reach the major nuclear complex at Natanz, the site of Iran’s only known uranium enrichment plant.

The White House “deflected” the first two requests and denied the last, Sanger said.

“They feared that if it appeared that the United States had helped Israel strike Iran, using Iraqi airspace, that the result in Iraq could be the expulsion of the American troops (from Iraq),” he said.
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From : CNN Report: U.S. rejected Israeli plea to attack Iran

Israel asked US for green light to bomb nuclear sites in Iran

A view of the nuclear enrichment plant of Natanz in central Iran

US president told Israeli prime minister he would not back attack on Iran, senior European diplomatic sources tell Guardian
by Jonathan Steele

Israel gave serious thought this spring to launching a military strike on Iran's nuclear sites but was told by President George W Bush that he would not support it and did not expect to revise that view for the rest of his presidency, senior European diplomatic sources have told the Guardian.

The then prime minister, Ehud Olmert, used the occasion of Bush's trip to Israel for the 60th anniversary of the state's founding to raise the issue in a one-on-one meeting on May 14, the sources said. "He took it [the refusal of a US green light] as where they were at the moment, and that the US position was unlikely to change as long as Bush was in office", they added.

Map showing nuclear activity in Iran

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Source: The Guardian Israel asked US for green light to bomb nuclear sites in Iran

Israel now fears Iran could have nuclear bomb by mid 2009

Israel now fears Iran could have nuclear bomb by mid 2009
by Yaakov and Herb Keinon

With Iran racing forward with its nuclear program, Israel now believes the Islamic Republic will master centrifuge technology and be able to begin enriching uranium on a military scale this year, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The new assessment moves up Israel’s forecasts on Teheran’s nuclear program by almost a full year — from 2009 to the end of 2008.

According to the new timeline, Iran could have a nuclear weapon by the middle of next year.

Iran, a senior defense official said on Tuesday, had encountered numerous technical obstacles on its way to enriching uranium but was now on track to master the technology needed to enrich uranium within six months.

read more from the San Francisco Sentinel...
Israel now fears Iran could have nuclear bomb by mid 2009

The Iranian-Israeli War

Yossi Halevi writing in The New Republic writes that the war most people might be expecting has in fact already began via Iran's proxies.
When will Israel and Iran go to war?
They already have. The Iranian-Israeli War

Iranian Deception: What the IAEA Did Not Address

"On November 15, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued its report about the latest status of Iran's nuclear program. Since the publication of the report, both Tehran and its critics are claiming victory. Tehran is using the report to claim that its nuclear program is a peaceful one, and critics have relied on the report saying that it is further indication that Tehran has not complied with the United Nations Security Council resolutions, has continued its uranium enrichment and deserves further punishment.

What is missing from the report, among other issues, is the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp which has been running a secret nuclear weapons program in parallel to the nuclear energy program run by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

According to paragraph 10 of the IAEA report, "In response to the Agency’s enquiry as to whether there was any military involvement in the program; Iran has stated that no institution other than the AEOI was involved in the decision making process or in the implementation of the centrifuge enrichment program."

This is an absolute lie. The centrifuge program has been and continues to be under the control of the IRGC since the beginning. As I elaborated in my previous column, "Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps: Chief Proliferators of Weapons of Mass Destruction," in 1983, the IRGC initiated Tehran's nuclear research and development program at the height of the Iran-Iraq war.

In 1987, the notorious Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan, in his secret trip to Iran, met with senior commanders of the IRGC to assist Tehran in the development of its nuclear bomb.

IRGC Brig. Gen. Ali Hossein-Tash oversaw the nuclear weapons program of Iran. He was until 2005, the deputy Defense Minister and is now a member of the Supreme National Security Council. Former chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, in his little-publicized farewell letter thanked Brig. Gen. Hossein-Tash, among others, for his role in the nuclear program."

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Iranian Deception: What the IAEA Did Not Address

The war in Iran

Is it just a matter of time?

Nuclear: New revelations on the Iranian regime front companies

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN

February 22, 2007

NCRI - This morning in a press conference in Paris, Afchin Alavi, member of the NCRI Foreign Affairs Committee made new revelations about the nuclear program of the Iranian regime:

By changing the names and addresses of companies, the clerical regime attempts to conceal its activities from the eyes of the IAEA and neutralizing the UN Security Council sanctions.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As you are fully aware, on December 23, 2006, according to Resolution 1737, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on 10 companies and entities that played a direct role in the clerical regime's nuclear and missile programs. Among these companies, four of them were companies that played a direct role in the Iranian regime's nuclear program. (The rest were entities)

According to information that we have received from inside of Iran, I would like to reveal that in a clear violation and in defiance of the UN Security Council resolution, by changing the names and relocating of at least two of these four companies, the mullahs' regime continues to use these companies in its nuclear program.

On the other hand we have found out that in order to expedite its secret nuclear project and in order to deceive and circumvent the UN and relevant international bodies and in order to continue its activities outside of control and inspection of the IAEA, the mullahs' regime has set up dozens of front companies. I will share with you details of five of these companies that have been established recently.

Some of the companies that I will expose today are part of a major company called "Energy Novin" (new energy) that acts as the mother company. The head of Energy Novin that is comprised of about 15 companies is Reza Aghazadeh (Head of Atomic energy Organization of Iran, AEOI and a Vice -President).

Relocation and changing the names of two companies under UN sanctions

1- Farayand Technique Company ( Technology of Centrifuge of Iran company)

In the list of companies and entities that were placed under UN sanctions, Farayand Technique is number five. Subsequent to its inspection by the IAEA, the name of this company was changed to Technology of Centrifuge of Iran Company (TCI). Farayand Technique Company is one of the main companies involved in manufacturing centrifuges. That is the reason for this company was placed under sanctions. The clerical regime changed the address of this company as well and relocated it to a new location in northern Tehran.

The head of this company is Jafar Mohammadi who has taken over Morteza Behdad recently. Jafar Mohammadi is one of the most senior experts in the Iranian regime in the field of manufacturing centrifuges. He was sent on loan from the Ministry of Defense, from the Mechanical Industries section, to Kala-electric Company to supervise the manufacturing of centrifuges. He is the number five of the UN Security Council list of persons involved in the nuclear programme.

In order to conceal its activities, this company has changed its address. Its new address is: Tehran, Saadat Abad, Kaj Square, Sarv Gharbi, Sina Mediacal Building, first floor, unit 8.
As a reminder, the former address of this company that was exposed by the Iranian resistance on August 2006 was: Tehran, Yousef-abad, 37th Street, number 1, third floor.

The factory of this company is located in Isfahan, Zobe-Ahan Highway, after highway police station, Siman Road, Ashtarjan industrial city, Sixth Avenue, building of the board of trustees of the industrial city, number 59.
The sign of the factory reads Farayand Technique.

I have to point out that since the factory has been inspected by the IAEA, the name of the factory and the sign outside of the factory has not been changed, but the name of the company and also its address have changed.

The head of factory in Isfahan is engineer Hassani.
The other members of the Board of Directors of the company are: Morteza Behzad, the Director General, and Seyed Amir Moaeyed Molaie, a member of the Board of Directors.

2- Pars Trash Company ( Rah Avard Kalaey Iran Company)

Pars Trash Company is number four in the UN Security Council list. The existence of this company was revealed by the Iranian Resistance for the first time. Subsequent to inspection of the company and its factory by the IAEA and since the clerical regime expected that the UN Security Council might impose sanctions, it changed the name of this company to Rah Avard Kalaey Iran Company, recently.

Pars Trash was place under the UN sanctions as a company involved in manufacturing parts of centrifuges.

It is very telling that the registration number of Rah Avard Kalaey Iran Company is 67977. This is exactly the registration number of Pars Trash Company.

According to the investigation of the Iranian resistance, the board of directors of the new company are exactly the same individuals of the board of directors of Pars Trash and there has not been any modification or changes in the board of directors.

According to reliable information, in addition to manufacturing parts of P-1 centrifuges, this company manufactures parts of advanced P-2 centrifuges as well.

The head of this company is Agha Zadeh and the head of its Board of Directors is Mohammad Hasssn Allah Dad.

The members of the Board of Directors are: Mohammad Hassan Allah DaD, Abdollah Joudat, and Hossein Akhgari. Mostafa Rouhi-pour is the Chief Inspector and Ali-Akbar Amini Parizi is the Alternate Inspector.

One of the plants of this company is located in Damavand road.

Information on five front companies

The clerical regime has established a vast set of front companies in order to pursue its nuclear goal and objective. Here, I would provide you with specifics of five of these companies that have been obtained by the Iranian Resistance.

3- Tamin Tajhizat Sanayeh Hasteieh ( Providing Equipment of Nuclear Industries- LTD) ( New Company)

This company is engaged in providing equipments needed for the fuel cycle and manufacturing of centrifuges. The registration number of this company is 267335. The head of Board of Directors is Reza Aghazadeh. The first deputy and managing director is Haleh Bakhtiyar.

Members of the Board of Directors are: Jaffar Mohammadi ( the number five in the list of persons put under sanctions according to UN Security Council resolution 1737), Morteza Behzad, Mohsen Sarkho, Amir Moayed Alai, Mehdi Keyvan, Ms. Haleh Bakhtiar. This company is located in Tehran.

4- Shakhes Behbood Sanaat ( indicator of improvement of industry) Company ( New company)

This company is involved in manufacturing equipments and parts that are needed in the fuel cycle. The Head of this company is Reza Aghazadeh and its Executive Director is engineer Samani. Samani is a mechanical engineer and is the head of the UCF plant in Isfahan. The factory of this company is located in Isfahan, Roshan dasht road, kilometer 20.

5- Mohandesi Toseh Sokht Atomi ( Engineering of Expansion of Nuclear Fuel) Company, LTD ( new company).

This company is engaged in the engineering matters of Arak heavy water site and manufacturing parts for heavy water site in Arak. The registration number of the company is 283278. This company with a company called Pishgam that follows the affairs of the Isfahan site, pursue technical matters collectively.
The Head of this company is Reza Aghazadeh. The First Deputy and Head of the Board of Directors is an engineer by the name of Ali Khatami. The other members of the Board of Directors are Mansour Movahed Raad, Javad Karimi, and Ahmad Fayaz-Bakhsh. This company is located in Tehran. The address of this company is: Tehran, Alvand Ave, 37th Street, number 27. The factory of this company is located in the Arak site.

6- Sookht Atomi Reactorhaye Iran (nuclear fuel of Iran's reactors). New Company

This comaony is engaged in management and supervision of construction, utilization, starting up facilities and factories that manufacture nuclear fuel facilities. This company is also involved in training adequate human force. This company's registration number is 225874.The Head of this company is Reza Aghazedeh. His deputy is Mohammad Ghanadi Marageh and the head of Board of Directors is Qassem Tarzi.
The rest of the Board of Directors is: Solat Sanna, and Manouchehr Rooshan. The Chief inspector is Ali Amani and the Alternate Inspector is Mansour Movahed Raad. The address of this company: Tehran, end of Kargar Shomali Ave, 20th Street, Gharghavol alley, number 3.

7- Modieriat Saakht Niroogahaye Atomi Iran (Managemetn of Building of Iran's Nuclear Reactors) (new company)

This company was established in July 2006 and its mandate is the management and implementation of plans for nuclear reactors. This company's registration number is 274811. The Head of this company is Reza Aghazadeh and its Head of Board of Directors is Seyed Hossein Hossein. The other members of the Board of Directors are: Massoud Feyz, Mehdi Farokhi, Ahmad Fayaz Bakhsh, Mahmoud Janatian, Javad Karimi Saabet, Siroos Shirazian, Matin Mohaseb is the Chief Inspector and Siroos Shirazain Khosravi is the Alternate Inspector. The main office of this company is located in Tehran, Argentina Square, Zagros Ave, number 23, third floor.

I have to reiterate that this is only a part of the clerical regime's network of front companies in its secret nuclear program. A major part of mullahs' nuclear programme has been pursued and carried out by the front companies.

reprinted from Iranwatch

War on Iran Has Begun

TEL AVIV, Israel — The war with Iran has begun.
By DAVID TWERSKY | July 13, 2006

Just last Friday, Iranian President Ahmadinejad warned that Israel's return to Gaza could lead to an "explosion" in the Islamic world that would target Israel and its supporters in the West. "They should not let things reach a point where an explosion occurs in the Islamic world," he said.

"If an explosion occurs, then it won't be limited to geographical boundaries. It will also burn all those who created [Israel] over the past 60 years," he said, implicitly referring to America and other Western nations who support Israel.

Years from now, the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit will be regarded like the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Against the backdrop of Kassam rocket fire on Israelis living within range of the Gaza Strip, it was the fate of Corporal Shalit that triggered the Israeli return to Gaza, which in turn brought the Hezbollah forces into the game.

Israel is fighting two Iranian proxies on two fronts. It may, or may not, open a third front against a third Iranian proxy, Syria. It is from the Syrian capital that Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of Hamas, has been laying down Palestinian Arab negotiating conditions. Why listen to Mr. Meshaal? Because the Hamas troops are loyal to him, rather than to their erstwhile leader, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah, let alone the increasingly (as if that were possible) hapless Palestinian Arab leader, Mahmoud Abbas.

As one senior Palestinian Arab close to Mr. Abbas told me Mr. Meshaal believes that any resolution of this crisis, and of the wider crisis brought on by the surprising Hamas election win last January and the ensuing isolation of the Palestinian Authority from its European and American funding sources, must await the outcome of the discussions between Iran and the West over its nuclear enrichment program.

Perhaps a grand bargain is in the works, in which Tehran will forgo its nuclear weapons ambitions in exchange for Washington's recognition of its emergence as the new regional power. Every day, Iran grows more powerful; any deal should reflect Iran's growing importance. For example: forcing Israel to bargain for prisoner swaps, cutting the Israeli military advantage down to size, and scuttling both the possibility of unilateral disengagement in the West Bank (the preferred Israeli option) and renewed negotiations with weakened Palestinian Arab moderates (the option preferred by the Europeans).

Even more loyal to Tehran is the Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, whose forces yesterday kidnapped two more Israeli soldiers, opening up the second front. Sheik Nasrallah is warning Israelis that they must not think Lebanon is unprotected as it was in 1981 and 1982 when Israeli forces came pouring across the border to silence Palestinian Arab guns. Sheik Nasrallah's men are the recipients of tens of thousands of rockets — longer range and presumably more deadly than their roughly engineered younger Kassam cousins — that put central Israel in their range.

Each one of these players — Hamas inside Gaza and in Damascus, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Assad dictatorship in Syria — are chess pieces on the Iranian board. The pawn moves, drawing in the Israeli bishop; the Lebanese rook challenges; the Syrian queen is in reserve.

Just listen: A few weeks ago, the Swedish government announced that it would label Golan Heights wine as a product from "Israeli Occupied Syria."

The Swedes were oblivious to the little dance played out around a request by the United Nations that Syria demarcate its view of the 1967 border. Turtle Bay was aiming to push Syria to claim the Sheeba farms, a small tract held by Israel and claimed by Hezbollah for Lebanon. The United Nations recognizes Sheeba Farms as belonging to Syria; should Israel and Syria ever negotiate a peace treaty, it is clear the Security Council would expect Sheeba Farms to be returned to Syrian control.

The United Nations wanted Syria to assert its claim, in order to deny Hezbollah its basic raison d'etre — "liberating" all Lebanese soil from "the Israeli occupation forces."

Passed in 2004, Security Council resolution 1559 requires the dismantling of all Lebanese militias and their replacement by a Lebanese state army. Thus far, this has been as successful as the requirement by the Quartet (America, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations) that all independent Palestinian Arab terrorist groups and militias be disarmed.

Guess what? The Syrians refused. Just turned the United Nations down flat. Apparently Sweden is more passionate about asserting Syrian territorial rights than Syria itself.

The reason is simple: Iran does not want to deny Hezbollah the justification for maintaining its armed presence in southern Lebanon, along northern Israel, and Syria does Iran's bidding.

Ephraim Sneh, a former general and Labor Party leader who is the Israeli longest drawing attention to the approaching conflict with Iran, is saying that the current moment reminds him of the Spanish Civil War. The broader global forces are aligned; local actors are committed. It is a bloody test, a macabre dress rehearsal, for what lies over the horizon.

The war with Iran has begun.


From the New York Sun republished here for historical reasons.