UN probe of Iran nuke programme: Key issues

Scope of work on centrifuge machinesThe IAEA says it has had in consistent answers about the timing and purpose of Iranian efforts to obtain...

Scope of work on centrifuge machines

The IAEA says it has had in consistent answers about the timing and purpose of Iranian efforts to obtain black-market blueprints and parts for centrifuges. These machines spin at supersonic speeds to purify uranium UF6 gas into fuel for nuclear power plants or, if enriched to high levels, for bombs. Tehran has installed 164 centrifuges at its Natanz Pilot enrichment plant, though most appear not to work yet.

Suspected bomb blueprint

El Baradei wants clarifications on a 15-page document shown to IAEA sleuths describing how to compress UF6 into uranium metal in small amounts and then cast it into ‘‘hemisphere’’ shapes only usable in making the core of an atomic bomb.

Military links to N-work

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The IAEA is probing intelligence about a ‘‘Green Salt Project’’ which linked work on processing of uranium ore, tests on high explosives and a missile warhead design. A confidential IAEA summary last week said all three aspects ‘‘could have a military-nuclear dimensions and appear to have administrative interconnections’’. Iran dismissed these as ‘‘baseless allegations’’.

Transparency visits by inspectors

The IAEA is awaiting results of environmental samples taken by inspectors at the Parchin military installation in November to verify no undeclared nuclear work was undertaken there. Iran last month allowed the IAEA to do tests for uranium particles on equipment from the ex-Lavisan military site.

Nuclear contamination

To help assess the accuracy of Iranian declarations on enrichment work, the IAEA wants to pin down beyond doubt the source of HEU particles found in areas where Iran has declared that centrifuge components were made, used or stored.

Ticle about the lack of impact of the controversy inside the country resigned, a statement said. —AP

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