Iran agrees to discuss alleged nuclear weapons program
The Los Angeles Times reports that ‘[i]nternational arms inspectors have brokered an agreement with Tehran to discuss alleged evidence of nuclear weapons experiments discovered on a laptop computer purportedly smuggled out of Iran and given to U.S. officials.’
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official Olli Heinonen received the commitment after two days of talks with officials in Tehran, Iranian news agencies reported.
The agreement signals a mild breakthrough. Iran previously refused to discuss the matter, insisting that a Feb. 22 IAEA report cleared up lingering questions about its nuclear program and should allow it to continue producing enriched uranium.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is meant only to produce electrical power for its growing population of 70 million. U.S., Israeli and European officials suspect Iran is trying to master the tricky process of enriching uranium in order to at least have the option to begin building nuclear weapons.
The so-called “alleged studies” came to light in 2005 after U.S. officials obtained a laptop computer which purportedly contained files with schematics for warhead designs, uranium enrichment experiments and explosives testing consistent with a nuclear weapons program.
O, fun. How predictable. “We know you’ve been working on the weapons, here’s the proof,” and suddenly Iran is willing to talk about it.
Well, there’s not much to talk about really. You are trying to develop nuclear weapons, we won’t let you. End of conversation.
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Europe’s been known to be pretty spineless.
Sure, but that should be out attitude, no?
out attitude?
if you mean our attitude – as in Europe should have a spine, yeah, but I’m not holding my breath.
Gee, how surprising. The endless dance of going back & forth, every once in a while agreeing with the toothless IEAE / UN agencies. Who then send out breathless press releases about "breakthrogh’s". Iran stalls, dribbles out a little info, make big shows of receiving delegations, and finally breaks off the talks, then rattles sabres. Total cycle time, 1-1.5 years; while they continue their work, and while the "international community" scream that we cannot take any actions against Iran while they are "negotiating". Over & over. When are the appeasers ever going to learn? Harsher penalties, isolation, leading to an eventual regime change if they are going to continue the belligerence. Or we will have to wait until it gets to the brink and the Israeli Air Force goes and protects their lives.