Iran says Stuxnet claims need investigating

[bananas]

Source: Reuters

Iran should investigate claims that the Stuxnet computer virus has caused major harm to its first nuclear power station, a senior official said Friday after suggestions the plant could become a "new Chernobyl."

The acting head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said reports of major damage to the Bushehr plant were a malicious campaign by countries hostile to Tehran's nuclear program, but that they should be looked into in any case.

"Many of these discussions raised in the media and world public opinion about the Stuxnet virus are an effort to create concern among the Iranian people and people of the region and delay the work of the nuclear power plant," Mohammad Ahmadian told the ISNA news agency.

"Therefore it is necessary that experts in the field investigate to see how much truth there is in these discussions."

<snip>

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-iran-nuclear-stuxnet-idUSTRE71337T20110204

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The warnings of another Chernobyl came from the Russian scientists working on-site in Iran:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8262853/Russia-warns-of-Iranian-Chernobyl.html

Stuxnet virus attack: Russia warns of ‘Iranian Chernobyl'

Russian nuclear officials have warned of another Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster at Iran's controversial Bushehr reactor because of the damage caused by the Stuxnet virus, according to the latest Western intelligence reports.

By Con Coughlin 5:23PM GMT 16 Jan 2011

<snip>

However, Russian scientists working at the plant have become so concerned by Iran's apparent disregard for nuclear safety issues that they have lobbied the Kremlin directly to postpone activation until at least the end of the year, so that a proper assessment can be made of the damage caused to its computer operations by Stuxnet.

The Iranian government is bitterly opposed to any further delay, which it would regard as another blow to national pride on a project that is more than a decade behind schedule. While Western intelligence officials believe Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, Iran insists the project's goals are peaceful.

The Russian scientists' report to the Kremlin, a copy of which has been seen by The Daily Telegraph, concludes that, despite "performing simple, basic tests" on the Bushehr reactor, the Russian team "cannot guarantee safe activation of the reactor".

It also accuses the Iranian management team, which is under intense political pressure to stick to the deadline, of "not exhibiting the professional and moral responsibility" that is normally required. They accuse the Iranians of having "disregard for human life" and warn that Russia could find itself blamed for "another Chernobyl" if it allows Bushehr to go ahead.

<snip>

[24601]

1. Sure Iran, just give us full access to all your facilities & systems so

that we can do a thorough forensics exam. A line by line exam of all the SCADA software should help it get going.

[boppers]

3. Yeah, they can trust us, right?

We'll promise not to lie...

[24601]

4. Trust Obama? Of course Iran can trust him to ensure a fair, non-

biased investigation. If they doubt it, just ask the Brits how well we protected information relating to UK nuclear programs from the Russians - right up to the point that it became inconvenient.

Who would have thought that Obama would turn out to be less trust-worthy than Bush?

Trust me, Iran, just trust me and we'll get to the bottom of this irritating STUXNET mess.

[boppers]

5. You know the information we gave to Russia was about US weapons, right?

The US disclosed weapons information about US manufactured systems that the UK purchased. For some reason the UK wanted the US systems to be secret, and the US decided to use that information to reduce overall stockpiles.

[Toon Me Out]

2. recco!

:thumbsup: