This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8523340.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Outcry over Iran nuclear report | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| There has been an international outcry after the IAEA, the UN atomic watchdog, expressed concerns Iran may currently be working on nuclear weapons. | |
| Germany said the report "confirms our great concerns", while the US warned Iran it faces consequences if it fails to meet international responsibilities. | |
| Moscow said Iran must co-operate more actively with the IAEA to convince the world its atomic programme is peaceful. | |
| Iran has always maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful. | Iran has always maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful. |
| The US and other Western nations fear it is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. | The US and other Western nations fear it is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. |
| Meanwhile, Iran launched its first domestically-built destroyer, reportedly equipped with sophisticated radar, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles as well as torpedoes and naval guns. | |
| Reports said the new 1,500-tonne guided missile destroyer, Jamaran, would be deployed in the Gulf. | |
| 'Declining co-operation' | |
| According to the unusually blunt report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran's level of co-operation with the agency was decreasing. | According to the unusually blunt report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran's level of co-operation with the agency was decreasing. |
| Germany said Iran's failure to comply with UN wishes over its nuclear programme was forcing the international community to pursue further sanctions against Tehran. | |
| URANIUM ENRICHMENT Iran says it is increasing uranium enrichment from 3.5% needed for commercial nuclear reactorsIran says it has started enriching to 20%, needed for a research reactor near TehranWeapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enrichedExperts say achieving 20% is a key step towards weapons grade In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Q&A: Iran nuclear issue | URANIUM ENRICHMENT Iran says it is increasing uranium enrichment from 3.5% needed for commercial nuclear reactorsIran says it has started enriching to 20%, needed for a research reactor near TehranWeapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enrichedExperts say achieving 20% is a key step towards weapons grade In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Q&A: Iran nuclear issue |
| "The persistent defiance... of United Nations resolutions and Tehran's continuation of a dangerous nuclear policy are forcing the international community to pursue further comprehensive sanctions," said a government spokesman | |
| US officials said that while the report showed Iran had technical difficulties, its IAEA co-operation was declining. | |
| Senior administration officials in Washington said Iran's pattern of behaviour was "disturbing". | |
| One official said Iran's statements that its nuclear programme was peaceful were becoming less credible, adding that it was becoming clear this was a country seeking nuclear weapons. | One official said Iran's statements that its nuclear programme was peaceful were becoming less credible, adding that it was becoming clear this was a country seeking nuclear weapons. |
| A senior Obama administration official said the report shows that there were "serious technical difficulties that are slowing down the nuclear clock". | |
| The US is keen for the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran. | The US is keen for the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran. |
| "We always said that if Iran failed to live up to those international obligations, that there would be consequences," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. | "We always said that if Iran failed to live up to those international obligations, that there would be consequences," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. |
| Russia's Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said: "Tehran must be more active in its co-operation with the IAEA and widen it." | |
| In response to the report, Tehran said it "confirmed Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the country's non-deviation towards military purposes," according to the state news agency, Irna. | In response to the report, Tehran said it "confirmed Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the country's non-deviation towards military purposes," according to the state news agency, Irna. |
| New director | New director |
| The IAEA report will be discussed by the agency's 35-country board at a meeting between 1-5 March. | The IAEA report will be discussed by the agency's 35-country board at a meeting between 1-5 March. |
| Iran has denied it intends to make a nuclear weapon | |
| This is the first IAEA report on Iran compiled under its new director-general, Yukiya Amano. | This is the first IAEA report on Iran compiled under its new director-general, Yukiya Amano. |
| The report says its information was "consistent and credible in terms of the technical detail, the timeframe in which the activities were conducted and the people and organisations involved". | The report says its information was "consistent and credible in terms of the technical detail, the timeframe in which the activities were conducted and the people and organisations involved". |
| The report said: "Altogether this raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile." | The report said: "Altogether this raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile." |
| The report says it is vital Iran co-operates with IAEA investigators "without further delay" as its resistance added to concerns "about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme". | The report says it is vital Iran co-operates with IAEA investigators "without further delay" as its resistance added to concerns "about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme". |
| Uranium enrichment | Uranium enrichment |
| The IAEA report contradicts a US intelligence report from 2007 that stated Iran had stopped its nuclear research in 2003 and probably not resumed it. | The IAEA report contradicts a US intelligence report from 2007 that stated Iran had stopped its nuclear research in 2003 and probably not resumed it. |
| US officials declined to comment on whether the latest IAEA report makes the US report even more out of step with current thinking. | US officials declined to comment on whether the latest IAEA report makes the US report even more out of step with current thinking. |
| One official said he was waiting for the US intelligence community to put out a new report. | One official said he was waiting for the US intelligence community to put out a new report. |
| The report also confirmed that Iran had begun enriching uranium to higher 20% levels. | The report also confirmed that Iran had begun enriching uranium to higher 20% levels. |
| Until now, Iran has produced uranium enriched to 3.5% for power stations, but it says it needs the more highly enriched uranium for a reactor producing medical isotopes. | Until now, Iran has produced uranium enriched to 3.5% for power stations, but it says it needs the more highly enriched uranium for a reactor producing medical isotopes. |
| Western powers fear Iran is heading towards enriching uranium to 90% - to produce a nuclear weapon. | Western powers fear Iran is heading towards enriching uranium to 90% - to produce a nuclear weapon. |