Click here to read The New York Times article dated March 27th, 2010. Following the discovery of a secret nuclear enrichment site in Iran, both Western agencies and international inspectors believe that Iran may be preparing to continue to deny the demands of the UN Security Council. UN inspectors are currently investigating the possibility of two sites following alarming comments by Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA). Since Obama's public announcement of the Iranian site at Qum last year, the United States has fought an uphill battle in trying to persuade China and Russia to go along with its sanctions. American officials currently share suspicion with the I.A.E.A. and are looking to satellite evidence to discover new Iranian sites. Several months ago, Iran claimed that it would attempt to build 10 new sites in the near future. This seems unlikely, however, given the time and complexity involved with building new plants. The most worrisome evidence includes the indicators that Iran is secretly producing enrichment equipment, such as centrifuges, for later use. The 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran is currently being prepared for President Obama to evaluate the present situation. Tehran leaders insist that the plant at Qum, as well as others, are in use for peaceful purposes. Many claim this is unlikely. In 2003, Iran came to an agreement with the I.A.E.A. to turn over information on any new plants. In 2007, Iran began to disregard this agreement. This article is important because it deals with international relations between both Iran and the world, as well as the US, Russia, and China in making and enforcing sanctions.
Click here to see the picture of I.A.E.A. Director General from flickr!
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