United Nations Says Iran Blocking Access On Nukes

by Gh0s7 | September 15, 2008 at 01:52 pm | 112 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Kirit Radia of ABC News is reporting that the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency accused Iran of blocking its attempts to investigate the country's nuclear program. Iran has steadfastly blocked a U.N. investigation into allegations that it tried to make nuclear arms and the probe is now deadlocked. The recently released IAEA report was released to the 35 nation IAEA board and the United Nations Security Council. As of now, the United Nations Security Council has already imposed three sets of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear defiance.

The IAEA says its monitors have "not been able to make substantive progress" in investigating Iran's nuclear activities since its last report was issued in May. The new report calls the matter a "serious concern."

Although the United Nations Seecurity Council has repeatedly demanded that Iran haly nuclear enrichment, the country continues to grow its nuclear capabilities. The article from ABC News says that Iran is now sping 3,820 centrifuges, a marked increase in centrifuges since May.

"It's a bigger jump than we expected," said Jacqueline Shire, an expert at the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, D.C. "They are significantly increasing their centrifuge operations.

The Institute for Science and International Security claims that Iran's centrifuges have been operating at 80 percent capacity since May, up from an estimated 50 percent from February to May.

"There remain a number of outstanding issues [from the last IAEA report] ... which give rise to concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program," according to the new report.

Regarding the above statement from the IAEA, there are now warnings from the agency that Iran may be modifying its long-range missiles to carry a nuclear warhead. The warning also say that the IAEA has obtained information that Iran's nuclear research "may have involved the assistance of foreign expertise." The White House has threated more sanctions if Iran continues to defy the United Nations.

Last spring, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, known collectively as the P5+1, offered a package of incentives for Tehran to suspend enrichment. The offer was a "refreshed" version of an offer made initially in June 2006.

The last sanctions that were slapped on Iran were on Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lanes, Iran's main shipping company. The sanctions accused the company of transporting for Iran's ministry of defense and Iran's armed forces. The United States continues to push for stronger sanctions but has faced strong opposition from Russia and China.