Iran document ‘was to make atomic warhead’

A DOCUMENT obtained by Iran on the nuclear black market serves no other purpose than to make an atomic warhead, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said yesterday.

The finding was made in a report prepared for the 35-nation IAEA board when it meets, starting tomorrow, on whether to refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

The report also said Iran had begun preparing for nuclear enrichment and continued to hinder a probe of unanswered questions about Iran’s atomic aims.

The IAEA said Iran had not yet begun enrichment itself but had started renovation work at Natanz enrichment site.

The report, by deputy IAEA chief Olli Heinonen, said Iran refused to let the IAEA question a key scientist linked to attempts to buy nuclear equipment, the report said.

Earlier in the day, the envoys of Britain, China, France, Russia and the US decided they would recommend tomorrow that the IAEA report Iran to the UN Security Council.

They also decided the security council should wait until the IAEA issues a report on Iran in March before tackling the issue.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, reproached Europe for the decision and repeated that Tehran will resume suspended nuclear activities and bar surprise UN inspections if it is referred to the council.

Iran insists it has the right as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to produce fuel by enriching its own uranium. The US and Europe suspect Iran aims to produce nuclear weapons.