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DATE=12/23/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224473
TITLE=IRAN NUKE PROGRAM (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IRAN'S PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE 
MISSILES TO DELIVER THEM ARE A -- CONTINUING CONCERN -- AT THE 
HIGHEST LEVELS IN WASHINGTON.  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S 
GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED HARD, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO STEM THE FLOW
OF NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.  V-O-A'S JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT:  A PUBLISHED REPORT SAYS IRAN IS ONLY TWO YEARS AWAY FROM 
DEVELOPING A USABLE NUCLEAR WEAPON -- CLOSER THAN PREVIOUSLY 
THOUGHT IN THE WEST.  THE REPORT IN "THE LONDON SUNDAY TIMES" IS 
ATTRIBUTED TO ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE SOURCES. 
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON WOULD NOT COMMENT ON INTELLIGENCE 
MATTERS, BUT SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS WORKING HARD TO STOP THE 
SPREAD OF NUCLEAR AND OTHER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, WITH A 
SPECIAL EFFORT FOCUSED ON IRAN.
                    /// BACON  ACT  181  ///
         THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN THE CONCERN OF THIS GOVERNMENT 
         AT THE ABSOLUTELY HIGHEST LEVELS.  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS
         DISCUSSED THEM WITH PRESIDENT YELTSIN, VICE PRESIDENT 
         GORE HAS DISCUSSED THEM WITH PRIME MINISTER 
         CHERNOMYRDIN.  AND THERE IS STATE DEPARTMENT AMBASSADOR 
         FRANK WISNER WHO HAS BEEN VISITING RUSSIA ON A 
         SEMI-REGULAR BASIS TO DISCUSS THE MISSILE PROGRAM.  AND 
         PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN REACHED AN 
         AGREEMENT DEALING WITH THE CHINESE SUPPLY OF MATERIALS 
         TO THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM.  
                        /// END ACT  ///
A RECENT PENTAGON REPORT SAYS SUPPLIES OF WEAPONS MATERIAL, 
INFORMATION, AND EXPERTISE FROM CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE KEY TO THE 
SUCCESS OF THE IRANIAN PROGRAMS.  
KEN BACON SAYS WASHINGTON ALERTED OTHER COUNTRIES TO THE PROBLEM 
AND PERSUADED MANY OF THEM TO CUT WEAPONS-RELATED EXPORTS TO 
IRAN.
                      /// BACON ACT 227 ///
         I THINK WE FEEL WE ARE GETTING A GOOD RESPONSE FROM THE 
         COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE ARE DEALING ON THIS TOPIC.  DOES
         THAT MEAN THAT WE HAVE  BEEN ABLE TO SHUT OFF FLOWS OF 
         TECHNOLOGY?  NO.  NOT YET.  THAT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO
         DO, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
                       /// END ACT ///   
MR. BACON SAYS ONE PROBLEM IS SUSPECTED "FREELANCE" SALES OR 
SHIPMENTS TAKING PLACE BY FORMER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OR BY 
INDIVIDUALS IN THE GOVERNMENT.  HE SAYS THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT 
HAS PROMISED TO TRY TO STOP SUCH ACTIVITIES IF THEY ARE TAKING 
PLACE.  (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GKT/RAE
23-Dec-97 3:41 PM EST (2041 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.