Thursday, February 16, 2012

Iran

Iran Denies Acquiring Advanced Enrichment Equipment

Logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (CTK)

22 January 2006 -- Iran's top national security official Ali Larijani has denied allegations that Iran has acquired advanced centrifuges on the black market for its nuclear program.

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January 22, 2006

Larijani said there is "no question" of this being the case. He said the government is ready to discuss any "ambiguities" with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Diplomats at the IAEA said on 20 January that Iran may have received sophisticated centrifuges capable of enriching uranium -- which could support Western claims that Tehran is hiding sensitive nuclear work.

Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful, but the United States suspects it is covertly developing atomic weapons.

Israel warned on 21 January that it will not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.

Speaking on 22 January, German Foreign Minister Walter Steinmeier urged continued diplomacy and cautioned against a "militarization of thinking."

(AFP)

Iran's Nuclear Program

THE COMPLETE PICTURE: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of Iran's nuclear program.

India -- Investigators work at the site where a vehicle exploded near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, 13Feb2012

Alleged Attacks Tehran's Way Of Lashing Out?

(INTRO) Israel has blamed Iran for two bombings targeting its diplomats in India and Georgia this week, as well as for a botched bombing in Bangkok that Thai intelligence officials said were aimed at top Israeli diplomats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's "terrorist activities" have been exposed, but Iran has denied any involvement. RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari spoke to Juan Zarate, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism about the attacks and Iran's alleged role. More

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (center) looks on as scientists unveil a fuel rod at the Tehran Research Reactor.

Iranian Nuke Still One-To-Three Years Away, Says Expert

Iran on announced on February 15 that it has installed its first domestically produced nuclear fuel rods in a reactor in Tehran. Tehran also announced that it activated a new generation of centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility. RFE/RL spoke with nuclear physicist Frank Barnaby about what the advances reveal regarding Iran's uranium enrichment abilities, which Western countries allege are aimed at secretly building a nuclear weapon. More

Iran has stepped up its pressure on activists using the Internet

Iranian Activists, Journalists Receive Threatening E-mails

A number of Iranian activists and journalists based inside and outside the country have told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda they have been threatened in anonymous e-mails. More