AP/ February 24, 2012, 11:53 AM

U.N. agency: Iran rapidly expanding nuclear work

VIENNA - Iran has rapidly ramped up production of higher-grade enriched uranium over the last four months, the U.N. nuclear agency said Friday, in a confidential report that feeds concerns about how quickly the Islamic republic could produce an atomic bomb.

The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency also said Iran had failed to give a convincing explanation about a quantity of missing uranium metal. Diplomats say the amount unaccounted for is large enough to be used for experiments in arming a nuclear missile.

Iran insists it is not interested in nuclear weapons and says its activities are meant either to generate energy or to be used for research. But the report contained little assurances the country's activities are purely peaceful.

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Instead, it also confirmed that two IAEA missions to Tehran within less than a month had failed to dent Iran's refusal to assist an IAEA probe of suspicions that the country has been secretly working on aspects of a nuclear weapons program.

The confidential report obtained by The Associated Press said the agency continues to have "serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."

The report was issued to the IAEA's 35-nation board and the U.N. Security Council as the latest update on what the agency knows and what it suspects about Iran's nuclear program.

It comes amid heightened tensions caused by Iran's refusal to reign in nuclear activities that much of the world fears could be redirected toward a weapons program. A rapid series of sanctions imposed by the U.S., the European Union and others imposed on Tehran have only increased acrimony without any sign that Iran is ready to compromise.

Instead, it has retaliated by imposing oil embargoes on Britain and France and threatening other European nations that act against it with similar punishment.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
5 Comments Add a Comment
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baileyccc says:
The answer is simply "bombing". It will be done most likely by Israel.
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rwsmith29456 says:
Maybe they will blow themselves up with it.
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involved_indi says:
This situation will end up in a war in the region in a year or two and if it doesn't it'll end up with Iran exploding a nuclear device in Israel and then betting that their sponsers (Russia & China) can stop any retaliation.
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honest_pols says:
IT'S ABSOLUTELY NAIVE TO BELIEVE IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS FOR 'PEACEFUL PURPOSES'

Whoever believes the current Apocalyptic-minded Iranian rulers' deceptions and propaganda, that ENERGY-WEALTHY Iran needs a Nuclear Program for energy and medical applications, is likely an excellent candidate for buying 'a real great bridge' that is for sale.

To better understand the Iranian regime's true intentions, see:
Iranium The Movie.
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rwsmith29456 replies:
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Oh, by the way. This sounds like Hitler telling Chamberlain that he wanted peace.