Iran addresses nuke bomb allegations first time in six years: IAEA

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran has for the first time in six years addressed concerns about the so-called "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear programme, a new IAEA report showed Friday, May 23, according to Agence France-Presse.

Tehran has handed over information related to detonators that can be used for a nuclear weapon under a key November interim nuclear deal, the quarterly report, seen by AFP, showed.

In technical meetings in late April and earlier this week in Iran, Tehran provided the UN atomic watchdog with "information and explanations, including showing documents, to substantiate its stated need and application of EBW (Explosive Bridge Wire detonators)," the report by IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano for member states, said.

"Iran showed information to the agency that simultaneous firing of EBW was tested for a civilian application," it went on.

"This is the first time that Iran has engaged in a technical exchange with the agency on this or any other of the outstanding issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme since 2008."

The EBW issue was part of seven "practical measures" that Iran agreed with world powers under a key November interim deal and due to be fulfilled by May 15. All have been implemented, the IAEA said in its latest report.

In a key deal with the so-called P5+1 powers -- the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- Iran agreed in November to roll back its nuclear programme to make it virtually impossible to make an atomic bomb in exchange for some relief from biting international sanctions.

The "possible military dimensions" of its nuclear programme have been of concern to the international community for years.

In November 2011, the IAEA reported it had intelligence that Iran had until 2003 and possibly since then conducted research into developing nuclear weapons. Iran on the other hand insists its nuclear programme is merely for peaceful purposes.

Under the November deal, Iran also agreed to convert its entire stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, making it more difficult to quickly produce the weapons-grade material needed for a bomb.

Of this stockpile, 38.4 kilogrammes of 20-percent uranium enriched was still awaiting conversion, the IAEA report said.

Iran has until July 20 to complete this work.