UN Finds Iran Nuke Progress Slow

Tehran has overstated nuclear capacity, watchdog agency finds
By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 30, 2007 3:12 PM CDT
UN Finds Iran Nuke Progress Slow
Iranian women sit under a symbol of an Atom during the unveiling...   (Getty Images)

The UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran’s uranium enrichment is progressing slowly, Reuters reports, a finding that will likely dim American efforts to impose new sanctions. “Iran made a fast start but then there was a leveling off,” said an official of the IAEA, whose report debunked Iran's claims that it has "industrial capacity" to enrich uranium.

Of concern to Western officials is the IAEA deal that allows Tehran to answer questions about its nuclear programs piecemeal, drawing out the process and delaying possible sanctions. The agency could not, however, rule out military intentions; with Iran continuing to bar inspectors from some facilities—access the IAEA mandates—they can’t verify the existence of secret sites. (More Iran stories.)

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