UN inspectors have discovered high-tech enrichment equipment on an Iranian air force base – the first known link between Tehran’s suspect nuclear programme and its military.

An Iranian airliner crashed as it landed at Sharjah airport in the United Arab Emirates today, killing at least 35 people.

Iran has made enough headway in 18 years of concealed activity to be able to produce nuclear weapons before the end of the decade, even if its facilities are opened to international inspection, a senior US official has said.

A confidential UN nuclear agency report found “no evidence” that Iran tried to make atomic arms, but it criticised Teheran for cover-ups and warned it is still uncertain if Iran’s nuclear efforts were for peaceful purposes, diplomats said.