U.N. 'suppressing info' on Iran nukes

JERUSALEM – The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, is deliberately suppressing information indicating Iran is seeking to obtain nuclear weapons, according to a senior Israeli government source speaking to WND.

Last week the IAEA released an initial report on Iran's nuclear program that claimed the country slowed the expansion of its nuclear production and is cooperating more with the agency just as major powers prepare to discuss harsh sanctions against Tehran.

Iran's nuclear chief, Ali-Akbar Salehi, speaking to state-run television, called the IAEA report a "big achievement" for his country and rejected continued Western charges over a possible nuclear weapons program as politically motivated.

Much of the international news media focused on positive sections of the report, which said Iran had partly improved its cooperation with the Vienna-based agency by allowing better monitoring at its controversial enrichment facility in Natanz. Tehran, the reports noted, also has granted a visit to a research reactor under construction after repeated requests by the IAEA.

Still, other aspects of the report were critical of Iran, pointing out the country is not cooperating fully. Also, the report documented some worrying signs Iran might be seeking nuclear weapons, including the existence of a computer containing blueprints outlining various calculations of the altitude from which a nuclear weapon can be dropped. The report also documented Iran conducted tests on explosive materials to examine chain reactions that could be related to nuclear weapons.

But the Israeli government charges the IAEA has much more material at its disposal and is deliberately withholding that information.

"The report is harsh, yet at the same time it does not reflect all the information available to the IAEA regarding Iran's efforts to progress with its military program, as well as its ongoing concealment and deception efforts," an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said.

A top Israeli government source told WND the IAEA was passed a massive amount of data from several Western and Middle Eastern intelligence agencies showing Iran is actively pursuing research into developing nuclear warheads as well as a full-scale nuclear weapons program.

The source said the IAEA generated a second report written by its inspectors in Iran and signed by the head of that agency in Tehran. The report, however, is being withheld deliberately by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei.

"The governments of many Western countries are aware of the suppressed report and are pressing the IAEA to release it but to not avail," said the source.

The source said the Israeli government is worried the IAEA's public report will ease international pressure against Iran and make isolating Tehran more difficult.