PARIS/VIENNA (Reuters) – An exiled Iranian opposition group said yesterday that Iran has some 60 scientists and engineers involved in a concerted and expanding programme to develop nuclear weapons under defence ministry auspices.
However, diplomats say the National Council of Resistance of Iran has had a spotty record with allegations about Iran’s nuclear work since exposing a secret uranium enrichment plant at Natanz in 2002. A top US nuclear expert said the NCRI report, like previous ones, should be treated with great scepticism.
Its latest report, whose details could not be verified, appeared timed to encourage a tougher line at talks with Iran the U.N. nuclear watchdog will have in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday and six world powers will hold in Baghdad on May 23.
But it clashed with the assessment of US and Israeli intelligence officials that Iran has not decided whether to “weaponise” its enrichment programme. Tehran says it is refining uranium solely for peaceful energy.
In the six-page report shown to Reuters, the NCRI cited sources in the Iranian government and military as saying some 60 scientists were pursuing bomb-relevant research in 11 agencies operating clandestinely under defence ministry control.
“Information … shows that the clerical regime has expanded the organisation responsible for nuclear weapons development,” the report said. “This finding reveals a complete and elaborate, and highly … secret research structure and a network for procurement of the required parts and equipment.
“So far, the identities of 60 directors and experts working in various parts of the New Defence Research Organisation and 11 institutions and companies affiliated with it have been detailed,” the report went on.
It featured diagrams said to lay out the disguised command structure and named scientists and engineers involved.
