As most analysts had expected, Iran’s dramatic speech regarding its enhanced uranium enrichment programme earlier this week was discredited by UN nuke officials.

Iran’s announcement had stirred up a lot of concern and debate regarding the consequences of a nuclear Iran. The speech had been condemned by leaders worldwide. Iran, however, had stuck to its claim, saying that the international community should accept the ‘reality’ of a nuclear equipped Iran.

UN nuke chief says Iran not running 3,000 centrifuges

ElBaradei, head of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency, said

It has not been demonstrated until now that there are underground nuclear facilities in Iran working covertly, and Iran doesn’t have the material that can be used to make a nuclear weapon. Iran is still just at the beginning stages in setting up its Natanz enrichment facility. The talk of building a facility with 50,000 centrifuges is just at the beginning, and it is (currently) only in the hundreds.

The nuke chief specialist said that although the Iranian nuclear programme was a deep global concern, at this point in time Iran is not running a hidden uranium enrichment program. The Russian administration too earlier had discounted the Iranian claim of increased number active centrifuges.

Suspend programme or face increased sanctions

The UN has two sanctions in place against the Iranian nuclear programme, and after the latest announcement it has reiterated that Iran should either suspend all nuclear enrichment programmes or else face increased sanctions. The US has also called for greater sanctions against Iran if the latter does not comply to the demands made by the international community.

The UN nuke chief has appealed to Iran that it must show more transparency with regards to its nuclear programme, even if its a peaceful one. He said the concern remained as the issue is a highly ‘complicated one’. The chief expressed concern over the defiant attitude of the Iranian government against the UN sanctions.

Iran accuses IAEA for leaking nuke info

Iran on Wednesday complained that the IAEA was leaking information over its nuclear program. Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran’s atomic energy organization, pointed to a mention in an IEAE report to the U.N. in February that Iran had transported nine tons of uranium gas to the Natanz facility. This according to Iran, is a breach of its privacy, something the country will fight for.

Saeedi was quoted as saying in the state-run Farsi newspaper

Enrichment is being done in various countries but nobody is informed how much material has been arrived in their enrichment facilities. This is the base of our criticism toward the agency. Why our confidential information is easily provided to media?

Could Iran’s nuclear programme turn out to be like Iraq’s WMD??

The story of the tuff between the US and its allies on the one side, and Iran and its nuclear programme on the other has been going on for a while now. The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. With Iran now announcing 3,000 running centrifuges which are enough in theory to develop a warhead in about a year, the west is freaking out even more.

However, it must be remembered that Iran is somewhat of a ’sensationalist’, and as analysts point out, it had difficulty running even a small number of 328 centrifuges. How can it run 3,000?

So one does not know whether Iran is actually capable of producing its own nuclear warhead, or whether the US is being too cautious. Do I dare think that this may be a stunt to pull of military operations against Iran? Iran’s nuclear programme may turn out to be like Iraq’s WMD. For now, the saga continues!

Via: AP