McClatchy: IAEA now saying Iran withholding facts on current nuclear program

[babylonsister]

Hmmm. Why the sudden turnaround?

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/21567.html

U.N. agency: Iran withholding facts on current nuclear program
By Warren P. Strobel | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007


WASHINGTON — Iran has provided answers to questions about its past nuclear activities, the United Nations' atomic watchdog reported Thursday, but hasn't provided "full transparency" about its current activities and continues to enrich uranium in defiance of the U.N. Security Council.

The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency warns that the agency's knowledge about Iran's current nuclear program "is diminishing" because Iran hasn't provided the same type of information since early last year that it had previously.

"The agency is not in a position to provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," says the confidential report, obtained by McClatchy Newspapers.

The report is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the Security Council will impose more sanctions on Iran.

But it could leave international powers once again at an impasse. The United States is likely to argue that the report underscores concerns that Iran is covertly developing a nuclear weapon. Russia, China and others are likely to contend that with Iran making some progress in addressing past questions, tougher sanctions are premature.

The Bush administration agreed with other world powers in late September to hold off on new sanctions while IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei sought Iran's cooperation in clearing up the history of its nuclear program.

[fascisthunter]

1. Must Keep That War Drum Going

we must take over the World!

[liberal N proud]

2. Oh look, it's the boy who cried wolf

[rucky]

3. Either this is a "Judith Miller"

or Iran is screwing the pooch.

[cali]

4. This is the IAEA and El Baredi

I trust them. They were right on Iraq. I see no reason to impugn them or El Baredi now. The bigger question is so what? So what if Iran is developing a nuclear weapon? Who does it threaten?

[babylonsister]

8. Up until a few days ago El Baredi had been arguing there was no

nuclear risk from Iran and he was being shot down and dissed by US and France.

[cali]

9. yes, I'm aware that El Baredi had argued that Iran had largely

cooperated- he never said they were in complete compliance. And he's been shot down and dissed by US mand times.

[scarletwoman]

5. Oh no! Has McClatchy become infested with pod people?

Oddly enough, I heard a completely different spin on this report on NPR on the way home from work this evening.

The bulk of the NPR report was about how the IAEA has been given much more information than ever before, and how it is clear from what the IAEA has been able to examine that whatever uranium enrichment is going on in Iran, it's ONLY producing energy-generating levels, and NOT bomb level material.

The only caveat came at the very end of the report, where it was conceded that it's possible that there is more going on in secret than what the IAEA has been able to access. But this was definitely NOT the overall theme of the NPR segment.

Hmmm....

sw

[leftchick]

7. I heard the same on CNNI

McC is doing the media BS for war. :(

[AuntPatsy]

6. Money or blackmail? Greed or fear, take your pick.