Smoking Gun Documents Show Iran Working on Atomic Bomb in 2007

The Times of London published a piece on Monday, based on classified documents, showing that Iran was working on building a nuclear bomb in 2007. The technical documents obtained by the paper describe Iran’s plan to test a neutron initiator, which is used to set off the explosion of a nuclear bomb. The documents contravene a 2007 report prepared by US intelligence agencies, which concluded that Iran had ended its program to produce nuclear weapons in 2003.
According to the report in The Times:

“The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.”

Iran has long been claiming that its nuclear research is being used to build nuclear power plants to supply the country’s growing population with electricity. But the country has massive oil and gas reserves.

Critics believes Iran’s goal is to produce atomic bombs under the cover of a civilian program to build nuclear power plants. Iran was caught just last year hiding an uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom.

The classified documents reveal a four-year plan, beginning in 2007 to develop and test the neutron initiator, which if true, means the country could be working on the device right now.

“The documents detail a plan for tests to determine whether the device works — without detonating an explosion leaving traces of uranium detectable by the outside world. If such traces were found, they would be taken as irreversible evidence of Iran’s intention to become a nuclear-armed power.”

Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London is quoted in the paper, referring to the revelations contained in the documents, as “casus belli” with “no diplomatic solution” and a “smoking gun.”

The UN will be taking up the issue of imposing additional sanctions on Iran this week.