Russia questioned Tuesday an announcement by Iran that it was
now making nuclear fuel on an industrial scale, a move that if
confirmed would take Teheran closer to making an atomic bomb which
the West fears is its aim.
Two UN inspectors, who could provide the first independent
assessment of any Iranian progress, arrived Tuesday to inspect the
Natanz uranium enrichment site where President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
said Iran had expanded its atomic work.
Iran's enrichment activity, until now at an experimental level,
has drawn international criticism, including from Russia, its
closest big power ally. The UN Security Council has slapped
sanctions on Iran for not stopping the work.
"We are not aware of any technological breakthroughs in the
Iranian nuclear program recently which would change the nature of
work on enrichment being carried out in the country," Russia's
Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was seeking
clarification from the International Atomic Energy Agency and had
no confirmation enrichment had begun in new machines.
Western analysts say Iran has made grand claims in the past
about progress to strengthen its bargaining hand with the West but
say Teheran has glossed over technical glitches that mean it is
probably several years from being able to make a bomb.
Diplomats who follow Iran's nuclear file also suggested Iran's
achievements could be more limited and aimed at showing Teheran
would not be deterred from atomic work.
Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, insists it wants
only to make fuel for atomic power plants it is planning. Its first
one is still under construction with Russian help.
An Iranian official said two IAEA inspectors had arrived in Iran
for a week-long, routine visit to include Natanz. The result of
their trip is likely to emerge only after they leave.
Inspectors from the Vienna-based IAEA routinely visit Natanz and
other sites but Teheran halted more intrusive snap checks last year
when its case was sent to the UN Security Council.
(China Daily via agencies April 11, 2007)
