Israel Accuses U.N. Of Iran Nuke Coverup
Israel slammed the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Friday for failing to expose what it insisted was Iran’s drive to acquire an atomic bomb in a key report on its archfoe’s nuclear programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency report on Thursday said Iran has made some progress in revealing the extent of its nuclear programme, but that it is still defying UN demands to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment.
“The report fails to expose (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad’s intentions that are well known to the IAEA and its chief Mohamed ElBaradei,” Deputy Foreign Minister Majalli Whbee told AFP.
Israel and the West fear that Iran’s nuclear programme is cover for a drive to develop the bomb, but Tehran insists it is solely for peaceful ends.
In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said the report “confirms that Iran is committing an ongoing violation of the Security Council resolutions and continues to advance its nuclear programme.”
“It must be stated that the agency says in its report that it is not in a situation in which it can carry out its mandate and reliably state the non-existence of undeclared nuclear activites and/or materials by Iran,” it said.
The IAEA report, which said that Iran’s “cooperation has been reactive rather than pro-active,” allows the Islamic republic to buy time in its drive to produce a nuclear weapon, Whbee charged.
“ElBaradei is aware of Iran’s selective cooperation. He knows the truth that it wants to carry on enriching uranium,” he said.
“Any extension of time that the international community gives Iran will allow it more time to develop a bomb. The international community must act to make Iran stop its programme and abide by the UN Security Council resolutions.”
Thursday’s report acknowledged that Iran had provided “sufficient access” and responded in a “timely manner” to questions and requests for clarifications.
Whbee said the report could act as a milestone on the road to a third round of Security Council sanctions against Tehran, adding that “the world must toughen the sanctions and not accept Iran’s selective cooperation.”
Washington wants further UN sanctions against Tehran. Britain and France have said they need more time to study the IAEA report, but both urged Iran to cooperate fully with the international community.
Whbee joined a growing chorus of senior Israeli officials who have called for the IAEA chief to step down.
“ElBaradei is hiding his head in the sand and exposing the region and the entire world to a real threat. This raises many questions,” he said.
Israel, which belongs to the UN nuclear watchdog but is not a signatory to its key Non-Proliferation Treaty, is widely considered to have the Middle East’s sole — if undeclared — nuclear arsenal.
It considers Iran its chief enemy after repeated statements by Ahmadinejad that the Jewish state should be wiped off the map.
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Shocking precedent! What is Israel trying to do? Speaking the truth loudly to a UN collaborator with terror regimes can only lead to more resolutions condemning … Israel. I’m sure the General Assembly will get right on it.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:42 amOur National Interests First
Respectfully:
• Israel has about 200 nuclear bombs. Israel is not supporting IAEA; not a member.
• Iran does not have a single nuclear bomb! Iran is developing a nuclear fuel cycle to make fuel cells for electrical energy production using reactor…just like Japan, Germany and many others.
• Iran has not attacked any country for the last 250 years… about the age of our country the good old USA. Is this true about Israel?
• Israel security is linked to stability in the region; Iran is part of this region.
Have we become a victim of Israel-Arabs-Persians (Iran) insecurity going back over thousand of years?
We spend our precious tax money to bribe the regional nations by giving them “foreign aids”, please spare me! We arm these nations, all of them. Some of the same arms have been use to kill our people. Except for Iran, where a single American has not been killed by Iranian people. Who were members of September 11 who attacked our country? Who attacked and killed our people on USS Liberty?
Should we spend our money and expertise in our hemisphere rather than 7500 miles from home? Our national interests first, please!
Respectfully, I am just asking questions.
November 17th, 2007 at 1:55 pm