Report: Iran Has Data to Make Nuke Weapon

N.Y. Times: IAEA Analysis Says Tehran May Have Info Required for A-Bomb; Tehran Agrees to Inspection of Uranium Site

(CBS/AP)  The head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog on Sunday described a "shifting of gears" in the controversy over Iran's nuclear program, and said inspectors would visit the country's new uranium processing site Oct. 25.

Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke in Tehran following talks with Iranian officials over the recently-revealed facility that has caused consternation around to world over the extent and purpose of Iran's nuclear program.

"I see that we are at a critical moment, I see that we are shifting gears from confrontation into transparency and cooperation," said ElBaradei as he announced the new inspection date.

"I hope and trust Iran will be helpful with our inspectors so it is possible for us to be able to assess our verification of the facility as early as possible," he added, while sitting next to Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's nuclear program.

The news came shortly after The New York Times reported on its Web site Saturday night that, according to a confidential analysis by the U.N.'s nuclear regulatory agency, Iran has obtained "sufficient information" required to design and manufacture an atomic bomb.

While IAEA staff members declare their findings are tentative and require further investigation and confirmation, their conclusions, said the Times, go further than the public statements of the United States and other governments.

The leaked IAEA report, on top of ElBaradei's arrival in Tehran to arrange inspections of recently-revealed nuclear facility in Qom, "is sure to put pressure on the Obama administration to require Iran to disclose the bigger picture of all its uranium enrichment facilities and allow for inspection," said CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk, based at the U.N., "and that runs counter to the denials of secrecy coming from Tehran."

NYT: Report Says Iran Has Data to Make a Nuclear Bomb

The revelation that Iran has been building a new nuclear plant near the holy city of Qom has heightened the concern of the U.S. and many of its allies, which suspect Tehran is using a civilian nuclear program as a cover for developing a weapons-making capability.

Iran denies such an aim, saying it only wants to generate energy.

Suspicion that Iran's newly-revealed nuclear site is meant for military purposes was heightened by its location - at least partly inside a mountain and next to a military base.

President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain accused Iran of keeping the construction hidden from the world for years. The U.S. president said last month that Iran's actions "raised grave doubts" about its promise to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only.

"Mr. Obama made a great mistake," said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "a historic mistake."

Iran agreed to allow U.N. inspectors into the facility at a landmark meeting with six world powers near Geneva on Thursday that put nuclear talks back on track and included the highest-level bilateral contact with the U.S. in three decades.

"The major breakthrough from the first diplomatic talks between Iran and the U.S. in decades, is that the Iranian government will allow international inspectors into the newly-discovered nuclear facility in Qom, in Iran," Falk said.

"Perhaps buying time, or perhaps heading into a better period of U.S.-Iran relations, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters here at the U.N. that the talks in Geneva were constructive, that they would continue, and that Iran would like a summit level meeting with world powers," said Falk.

Iranian officials argue that under IAEA safeguard rules, a member nation is required to inform the U.N. agency about the existence of a nuclear facility six months before introducing nuclear material into the machines. Iran said the new facility won't be operational for 18 months, and so it has not violated any IAEA requirements.

"Mr. Obama made a great mistake, a historic mistake," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday, claiming that instead of trying to keep the site secret, Iran willfully revealed its existence one year before it was legally required to, "out of respect for law."

"Later it became clear that (Obama's) information was wrong and that we had no secrecy," Ahmadinejad said. White House spokesman Tom Vietor said the administration had no comment on Ahmadinejad's remarks.

On Sunday ElBaradei (left) admitted that the IAEA has "concerns about Iran's future intentions," but added that "the agency has no concrete proof of an ongoing weapons program in Iran.

"We need transparency on the part of Iran and we need cooperation on the part of the international community," he said.

But in Geneva earlier this week, there appeared to be historic progress in talks between the Iranians and 6 world powers.

The Iranians not only said IAEA inspectors could visit the secret plant within 2 weeks, they also agreed in principle to cooperate with Russia and France on a sensitive uranium enrichment project, and announced they'd be back to negotiate further.

The deal that was struck in Geneva on Thursday represents progress of sorts, said CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer. At least it shows the Iranians are willing to talk about their secretive nuclear program, but there's no doubt the really hard bargaining is about to begin.

Some analysts think the regime is counting on nuclear negotiations with the West to shore up support at home for a government whose legitimacy is not recognized by millions of its own citizens, after weeks of extreme violence following Iran's June elections.

"The message that the regime wanted to send back to Iran [is] that, no matter what you think or how we are treating you, at the end of the day the international community will speak to us and not support you," said Nazenin Ansari, Diplomatic Editor of Kayhan Newspaper.

Palmer said Western diplomats know the nuclear talks - due to start again before the end of the month - might send this signal to a discouraged reform movement.

But at the moment, they say, the priority is to make sure Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb.

Also on Sunday, ElBaradei discussed a plan to allow Russia to take some of Iran's processed uranium and enrich it to higher levels to fuel a research reactor in Tehran.

He said that there would be a meeting Oct. 19 in Vienna with Iran, the U.S., France and Russia to discuss the details of that agreement.

The Obama administration, together with the U.S. Congress, is drawing up plans for tough new sanctions if the talks with Iran show signs of faltering. Obama said the new penalties could target Iran's energy, financial and telecommunications sectors.

A congressional committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on the possibility of expanding sanctions to cover a wider range of financial transactions, including a new ban on exporting refined petroleum to Iran.

[damnedrelign]

WHETHER OLD NEWS OR NEW NEWS...

THE KIND OF WORLD IRAN PLANS TO IMPOSE ON ALL PEOPLES AND ON ALL NATIONS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE DARK AGES,TO THAT OF THE GERMAN NAZIS, OR WORSE!

and...

...the current, maniacally religious, Islamofascist Iranian regime, is working in ANYTHING BUT the world's best interests!

Iran is an energy-WEALTHY country, but continues to deceive the world that it's nuclear program is for 'its energy needs.'

With nuclear weapons and with Iranian leaders' apocalyptic (delusional) 'visions', we face a fast-approaching end-of-world scenario.

Stop the current, maniacally religious, Islamofascist Iranian regime from ANY nuclear capability BEFORE it's too late and with ANY means it takes, including use of military force!!!

[armik80]

violation of humanrights, nuk bomb; exporting terrorisem all are triangle of fascistregime in iran.big mistake of west is to make line between these basis .worse is happening in iraq .mullahs are ruling iraq not the iraqis .us must help iranian hostages and free them from iraqi - iranian gov . the only way to stop mullahs is to support NCR. and iranian fredom lovers mojahedin.they are the last chance to prevent another bloody war in middeleast or iran's bomb & terror ,make choose? war or peace?

[armik80]

iran regime is killing thoes who tell the world about nuk activities of regime. now they trys to killthem in iraq."Based on reports, around 18:00 local time, the 36 PMOI hostages, who had been on dry hunger strike for 78 hours, were beaten and taken violently to another unknown location. The religious fascism ruling Iran had already demanded their interrogation and trial.
It is quite clear that the intention behind this violent transfer is the murder the 36 PMOI hostages for which the Government of Iraq is directly responsible.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
October 4, 2009" so help this hostages , they are only anti nuk bomb in the hands of mullahs .

[damnedrelign]

THE KIND OF WORLD IRAN PLANS TO IMPOSE ON ALL PEOPLES AND ON ALL NATIONS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE DARK AGES, THAT OF THE GERMAN NAZIS, OR WORSE!

Those who think the events inside Iran are not a major danger to others who are currently - and very fortunately so - not within the grip of the current Islamofascist Iranian regime, are either too naive, or are living in denial in a fool's paradise.

Virtually all of your liberties, your freedom to think, and your free way of life will cease as you cannot imagine!

These religious ISLAMOFASCIST fanatics who rule Iran, are filled with delusions of power and conquest over others - in the name of their 'holy/godly purpose'.

And make no mistake about this:
[in thier delusional minds]
Their Islamic brand of religion is the only true religion,
and is superior to all other religions.

TOLERATION OF OTHERS?
Ask any of the unfortunate minorities who live in Moslem countries about toleration.
Also, ask others who live in non-Islamic countries about toleration of even 'other' non-Islamic MAJORITIES!

Acquiring nuclear weapons will only serve to encourage and to embolden them further towards their diabolical plans, as the current, maniacally religious, Islamofascist Iranian regime, is working in ANYTHING BUT the world's best interests!

Iran's nuclear capabilities must be denied and taken out, BEFORE entire mankind will experience the worst cataclysmic consequences and massive deaths soon thereafter, since that caused by the Nazis some 70 years ago.

The current, maniacally religious, Islamofascist Iranian regime, is fast becoming an extremely dangerous and deadly threat, like Hitler and the Nazis, only now worse...

... with nuclear weapons!

[nextgenman09]

THE KIND OF WORLD IRAN PLANS TO IMPOSE ON ALL PEOPLES AND ON ALL NATIONS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE DARK AGES, THAT OF THE GERMAN NAZIS, OR WORSE!
-------

Help! Help! Fear! A backward country is going to defeat every other nation in the world! help! Fear! Help me Glenn Beck! Help me Rush Limbaugh! Help me Mann Coulter!

[damnedrelign]

To nextgenman09:

It is moronic and short-sighted to dismiss the current Iranian leaders' extremely dangerous agenda from being a major, major world threat.

In addition, what you do NOT realize, is the exportation of Iranian leaders' warped Islamocentric and Islamofascist IDEOLOGY to all corners of the globe, which will be imposed/forced into your own, naive, clownish face!
(and probably also right up your wazoo)

It's time you and other naive, uninformed fools learned from similar historical patterns regarding the rise of fascistic and totalitarian 'administrators', of human enslavement, torment and horror!

[ass_u_me]

Even if Iran was our friend and never had any intention of using any potential future nuclear arms against us or our allies, would they have the ability, in terms of national security, to keep the nukes from falling into the wrong hands? After the dissolution of the U.S.S.R., the U.S. spent money to help Russia with its nuclear security. We help other nuclear powers in this respect where needed. It seems like Iran may become part of the nuclear club, the question being when.

[ajayvee]

Iran has the knowhow to make a bomb !!!! No kidding, we gave it to them in the 90s. Who writes this crap, the Hasbaras?

[damnedrelign]

GET TO KNOW WHAT THE RELIGIOUS FANATIC LEADERS OF ISLAMOFASCIST IRAN WANT

Only when you grasp the extremely dangerous agenda that the current Islamofascist Iranian regime is attempting to carry out, will you come to realize how that brand of religion, the extreme brand of Islam - Islamofascism - poses the greatest threat to ALL peoples and to ALL nations.

Your responsibility is to research the dangerous, delusional and deadly attempts to precipitate conditions for the arrival of the Moslem version of the Messiah, aka the 12th Imam, or Mahdi. It is truly apocalyptic, or end-of-the-world scenario.

After researching the subject of the Moslem Messiah, the 12th Imam, or Mahdi, return to this article with your suggestions on how to deal with the current Islamofascist Iranian regime. Then and only then, tell us why the Western, Free World should not take out Iran's nuclear program, which Iran is developing for nuclear weapons!

[habusteve]

You can get the same data they have off the internet!Your news service sucks!!

[starleo146]

Oh I am so shocked, Why do you think Cheney was eager to bomb Iran he knew it and we knew it They just kept it a secret.

[cdeals]

Lol i didnt think last 3 years of congress or Barry Obama were Reupublicans but maybe....

[cdeals]

Wait, ive got an idea on how to bring Iran to its knees? Let Barry Obama run the Iranian economy. He will have them begging to give up their nuke plants.

[nextgenman09]

If we were gonna take that tack we would have sent a Republican. They're masters at destroying economies.

[99ereHsdadhgaB]

The CBS sunday scissor is at work.Where are my postings going?

[pickaguitar1]

"Iran Has Data to Make Nuke Weapon"

Good! They have the right just like every other nation...next story

[jwesel1]

Next story for neocons is that they will keep on ignoring this fact.

[reveal5]

Muhammed ElBaradei is in Iran to inspect the newly discovered nuclear facility...This is an amazing development...Iran has agreed to this inspection.This is a turning point and shows some willing cooperation between Iran and the UN.

[ubrew12]

I've said this before. I don't want to condone Iran's actions, since its true that Islam can be, in the wrong hands, an astonishingly intolerant religion and thus prone to its worst impulses. Nukes in Iran would be so much more acceptable if Iran could ressurect their once vibrant democracy (which, if I remember right, the U.S. killed in favor of our dictator).

However. Persia has been around for 3000 years or more. Its mostly landlocked and exists on the boundaries of Asia and Arabia, most overland trade routes go through there and it has few natural boundaries. What I'm trying to say is in it's long history Persia has been invaded and taken over by every one of the peoples on its borders: mongols, Greeks, Romans, Iraqi's (Babylonians), Jews, Indians (mogol empire), etc. And today EVERY ONE of those peoples on modern Persia's borders has nukes: Pakistani, Chinese, Russian, Indian, European, Jewish, etc. You don't have to be a die hard Islamist to see where such a profound strategic imbalance will eventually lead. You just have to be a student of Persia's long history.

If we're going to get their focus away from nukes, we're going to have to enter some profound mutual defense promises for their protection. We're going to have to PROMISE the deaths of American soldiers should Iran be invaded. Would we follow through on such a promise? Currently, the Iranians don't think so. And so its nukes...

[Resculptit]

I would suggest that everyone go to CSPAN.org - - find today's Washington Journal program (Oct.4) and watch the segment from Scott Ritter - Former UN Inspector, Ex-Marine, who says all this is a bunch of silly "Mis-Information." He compares this intelligence from Germany just as the intelligence we had when C.Powell used at the UN to justify the war in Iraq. This so called "Intelligence" is from unsubstantiated, easily disproved, and from a single source that can no more prove its legitamacy than Powell was able to prove about those 18-Wheeled vehicles in Iraq with WMD's. This is just another Farce that the news guys have latched upon without ANY substantive proof. Face it - The Iranians are finally coming clean. Let's give them a chance to put the inspectors in their later this week, wait for their conclusions, and see the facts. Jumping to a conclusion about a single source without substantiation is like a fundamentalist that puts faith before facts. It is just Smoke where there is NO FIRE.
Richard Lewis
Little Rock, Arkansas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Again - listen to Scott Ritter's discussion on CSPAN's "The Washington Journal" at CSPAN.org - once they get it on the net. It will enlighten many of those who fall for every silly paranoid "vision" or every so-called "Intelligence" creation from sources that enjoy the money over the truth.

[pigsinlipstick]

WARMONGERS ALERT

[wyodutch]

If Israel, or her American Toadies pull a Pearl Harbor on Iran, don't mislead yourself into thinking that Iran will sit there passivly and lick her wounds.
.
At a minimum, Iran will launch strikes on oil terminals throughout the region, as well as sink a supertanker or two. The result will be a spike in oil prices like the world has never seen.
.
Don't worry about the Pentagon... they'll have the NPR to keep the tanks rolling and ships sailing... But you? Well, you'll have to pony-up for that $5.73 a gallon unleaded. And... as you watch the dial spin, you'll grit your teeth and comment as to how much you hate them "ragheads" for making "your gas" so expensive.
.
Unintended consequences boys... Unintended consequences.

[Orlandojon]

Iran has threatened to wipe out another country
Iran has a secret under ground nuke site
The UN only knows how to use sanctions
China and Russia are roadblocks to any serious sanctions
Israel is capable of destoying the nuke sights
Obama and progressives are roadblocks to Israel conducting the raid
Iran will have nuclear weapons due to inaction

[wyodutch]

Wow... You memorized the entire AIPAC list of Iranian talking points.
.

[zzacrat]

Lets everybody say thank you Obama!!

[worldcitizen1]

If Israel is capable for destroying the nuclear sites in Iran, what's stoping them? Common sense? Fear?

[kevjustice]

Real Historical fact: You will not read this in any book or hear this from any "official" form of media. The real reason the U.S. dropped A-bombs on Japan was they wanted to show the Soviet union that they had the bomb and were willing to use it. Iran and many other countries want an "equalizer".

[ubrew12]

And the reason they dropped it on a city filled with people with no warning? (we owned the skies over Japan at the time and could have easily have warned them via leaflets).