Uranium equipment find puts pressure on Iran

Sophisticated uranium-enrichment equipment, which could be used in the production of nuclear weapons, has been discovered by United Nations inspectors in Iran, US sources said today.

The discovery, at an air force base outside the capital Tehran, could undermine Iran’s claim it is not trying the build a nuclear bomb.

The find comes after a promise by Tehran to Britain, France and Germany to suspend enrichment operations.

The discovery was made last week when UN inspectors examining Iranian documents found drawings of the P-2 gas centrifuge, American officials told the USA Today newspaper.

The system, housed at Doshen-Tappen air base, is twice as productive as Iran has acknowledged having.

Tehran admitted that it was doing research on the P-2, but said it was for peaceful purposes.

There was no evidence any uranium had been enriched at the newly-found facility, Before the latest discovery, US intelligence believed Iran was 10 years from having a nuclear weapon.

The development is likely to lead to new calls for action by UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran has been suspected of pursuing the nuclear bomb for many years, and was named by President George Bush as one of the “Axis of Evil” nations.

Last year, after coming under pressure to reveal its nuclear ambitions, Iran made a deal with Britain, France and Germany to put on hold its efforts to enrich uranium.

Under the deal it also agreed to let inspectors into the country to prove it is not trying to build bombs.

Iran came under increasing pressure after Libya decided to reveal its nuclear secrets and open its weapons programmes to international inspectors.

The latest discovery in Iran will be included in an IAEA report which will be sent to 35 government’s this weekend.

Some experts warned that if the US or UN decides to punish Iran for the enrichment facility, it could bring the current level of co-operation to an end.

“You want the Iranians to reveal more, and we know there is more to reveal,” said David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.

The IAEA and the White House declined to comment.