IAEA report details danger of Iranian nuclear project

The International Atomic Energy Agency released a report on Tuesday including sharp language about Iran’s renegade nuclear program. "The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device," said the IAEA report by Director-General Yukiya Amano. Elsewhere it expresses "serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program" and gives details of activities and equipment which “are specific to nuclear weapons." The report also "requests" that Iran "engage substantively with the Agency without delay for the purpose of providing clarifications regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."

To see the full report by the IAEA on Iran’s renegade nuclear program, click HERE (PDF)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a fiery speech on Wednesday, denouncing the report. "You should know that this nation will not pull back even a needle's width from the path it is on," he said in a speech carried live on state television. "Why do you damage the agency's dignity because of America's invalid claims?" Ahmadinejad’s speech tracks with comments by other Iranian officials, who appear to believe that if they simply deny the report’s conclusions and declare that it is a fabrication of the US, UK and Israel they will not be faced with any consequences for it.

"The findings published in the report were known to the intelligence communities for a long time, but the significance of the report is that for the first time an independent professional body gives it a seal of approval," said Dr. Motti Keidar of Bar Ilan University.  "For Israel, this means that it was right all along, and for the United States – it means they have to act more intently against Iran and not impose more useless sanctions. This kind of report can definitely deter them, as they are now exposed to an attack from the West."

Meanwhile, France declared its intention to bring the report before a special meeting of the UN Security Council and other Western powers have hinted at plans to increase pressure on Iran while China and Russia both urged caution and expressed hope for a “peaceful” resolution to the situation.

China's official Xinhua news agency also declared in a commentary piece that "there are no witnesses or physical evidence to prove that Iran is making nuclear weapons. In dealing with the Iran nuclear issue, it is extremely dangerous to rely on suspicions, and the destructive consequences of any armed action would endure for a long time."

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "We have serious doubts about the justification for steps to reveal contents of the report to a broad public, primarily because it is precisely now that certain chances for the renewal of dialogue between the 'sextet' of international mediators and Tehran have begun to appear."

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Shaul Mofaz told Army Radio on Wednesday that the report "constitutes an opportunity for the free world to take action,” adding that "I think the time has come to intensify sanctions to paralyze the Iranian economy."

“We are approaching a reality of a balance of terror in the Middle East, and Iran's missile range covers most European capitals. Anyone who thinks he's immune [to the danger] is making a mistake," Mofaz concluded. "Military action of any kind, particularly from Israel, is the last and worst action at this time, but all options must be on the table and ready. We will not accept a nuclear Iran."