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The IAEA has been blocked by Iran for more than four years in attempts to probe what it says is intelligence from member states strongly suggesting that Iran secretly worked on developing nuclear weapons. Iran says the suspicions are based on forged intelligence from the United States, Israel and others. The agency first mentioned the suspected existence of the structure in a November report that described "a large explosives containment vessel" for experiments on triggering a nuclear explosion, adding that it had satellite images "consistent with this information." It did not detail what the images showed. But a senior diplomat familiar with the IAEA's investigation who has also seen the image provided to the AP said they revealed a cylinder similar to the image at Parchin. Subsequent photos showed a roof and walls going up around the cylinder that then hid the chamber from satellite surveillance. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said in March that his agency has "credible information that indicates that Iran engaged in activities relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devices" at the site. Diplomats subsequently told the AP that the experiments also appear to have involved a small prototype neutron device used to spark a nuclear explosion
-- equipment that would be tested only if a country was trying to develop atomic weapons. Iran has strenuously denied conducting such work -- and any intentions to build nuclear weapons
-- but has been less clear on whether the structure where it allegedly took place exists. The senior diplomat familiar with the IAEA investigations said the Iranians have refused to comment "one way or the other" on that issue to agency experts. He and others interviewed by the AP demanded anonymity because their information was privileged, and the official providing the drawing and other details on the structure also demanded that he and his country not be identified in return for sharing classified intelligence.
Attempts to get Iranian reaction over the weekend were unsuccessful. with calls to officials in Vienna going to voice mail. Chief Iranian negotiator Ali Asghar Soltanieh had no comment to reporters as he went into the talks.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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