The UN atomic agency revealed today that Iran received black-market designs to encase weapons-grade uranium and diplomats said they appeared to be part of blueprints for a nuclear warhead.

POLITICIANS from hardline Islamic groups and moderate opposition parties yesterday walked out of the lower house of parliament to protest at a startling admission from a Cabinet minister that a top Pakistani nuclear scientist sold centrifuges to Iran.

A ROGUE scientist who is at the heart of an international nuclear black market investigation gave centrifuges to Iran, a Pakistani minister said yesterday.

A rogue scientist who is at the heart of an international nuclear black market investigation gave centrifuges to Iran, a Pakistani minister said today.

Evidence gathered by the UN atomic agency suggests North Korea was the source of nearly two tons of uranium to Libya as part of attempts by Colonel Gaddafi to build nuclear warheads, diplomats said today.

PAKISTAN will be named a major non-NATO ally by the United States, making it easier for the country to acquire US arms, despite US unease about how much officials knew of nuclear leaks by a Pakistani scientist.

PAKISTAN yesterday tested its longest-range missile yet, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and hitting targets deep inside neighbouring India, the military said.

The White House is to ease a ban on American travel to Libya in response to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s promise to stop his nuclear weapons programme.

Iran today admitted publicly to buying nuclear equipment from an international black market, including dealers on the Indian subcontinent, in a bid to display greater transparency and ease concerns over its controversial nuclear programme.

Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan sold centrifuge parts to Iran for its nuclear programme in the mid-1990s, it was claimed today.

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.

The hunt for middlemen who worked with the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme to supply rogue regimes with weapons technology has widened to Japan and Africa, diplomats said.

The founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme asked President General Pervez Musharraf for forgiveness today for spreading weapons secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, the government said.

THE founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme Abdul Qadeer Khan has admitted he transferred nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, a Pakistani government official said yesterday.

The founder of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, has admitted he transferred nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea, a Pakistani government official said today.

Seven suspects, including the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, remain under investigation for allegedly selling nuclear secrets to Iran and Libya, and a decision on whether to put them on trial will only be made when the probe is complete, an official said.

PAKISTAN has expanded its investigation of the country’s premier nuclear weapons laboratory, detaining as many as seven scientists and administrators for questioning, officials said yesterday.

PAKISTAN yesterday admitted scientists involved in its atom bomb program may have been driven by “personal ambition or greed” to export technology to Iran, but added that the government had no part in any such deals.