Official: Probe Backs Iran on Nuke Claims

[norml]

Official: Probe Backs Iran on Nuke Claims

Thursday June 9, 2005 10:46 PM


By GEORGE JAHN

Associated Press Writer

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iranian claims that weapons-grade uranium entered the country from outside, instead of being produced by Tehran as alleged by Washington, appears to be strengthened by initial results of the latest investigation, a diplomat said Thursday.

Traces of weapons-grade uranium on centrifuge parts provided by Pakistan appear to match the uranium found on centrifuges bought by Iran on the nuclear black market, said the diplomat, accredited to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

That would strengthen arguments that the suspect traces might have arrived in Iran together with the equipment itself, as the Iranians claim.

In Washington, a State Department official withheld judgment on any preliminary results. ``The bottom line is that we are looking for an IAEA report from the director general on the status of his investigation,'' said the U.S. official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.




snip




http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5063872,00.html

[Supersedeas]

1. but Professor Rice made it clear, very clear...didn't she??