Iran 'close to deal' for Kazakh uranium

[StarfarerBill]

Source: Guardian UK

Iran is said to be close to an agreement to buy more than 1,300 tons of uranium ore from Kazakhstan, a move that would allow the country to pursue its nuclear programme without conditions imposed in a UN-brokered uranium-for-fuel swap.

The deal, thought to be worth about $450m (£280m) for Kazakhstan, could yield nuclear fuel to keep Iran's medical and research reactors churning, and, western countries fear, further its nuclear weapons programme. The transfer of purified uranium was reported by the Associated Press, which cited a report produced by an unnamed member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The price is high because of the secret nature of the deal and due to Iran's commitment to keep secret the elements supplying the material," a two-page summary of an intelligence report said. An official of the country which drew up the report said "elements" refers to rogue officials in the Kazakh government brokering the deal.

Iran is under three sets of UN security council sanctions for refusing to freeze its enrichment programme that could be used to make nuclear weapons. Tehran denies such aspirations. Any attempt to import such a large amount of uranium ore would be in violation of those sanctions, which ban exports to Iran of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology that could contribute to its enrichment activities.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/30/iran-uramium-kazakhstan

[AngryAmish]

1. approves

[groundloop]

2. I sure wouldn't want to be aboard the tanker making that delivery

Lost at sea....

[secondwind]

3. Poor Obama.......something else to worry about while on vacation.

:-(

Can anything ELSE go wrong for this poor guy?

[seafan]

4. Obama considering uranium fuel bank under internat'l control in Kazakhstan to solve Iranian impasse

April, 2009

Obama considering uranium fuel bank under international control in Kazakhstan to solve Iranian impasse
Asia Times



Iran 'close to deal' for Kazakh uranium, 30 December 2009
Guardian


Interesting that the Guardian has this:

.....

The transfer of purified uranium was reported by the Associated Press, which cited a report produced by an unnamed member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The price is high because of the secret nature of the deal and due to Iran's commitment to keep secret the elements supplying the material," a two-page summary of an intelligence report said. An official of the country which drew up the report said "elements" refers to rogue officials in the Kazakh government brokering the deal.

.....

Smells like a bit of propaganda for those who are relentlessly pushing for an attack on Iran..



(bold type added)