Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12-13-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S-Iran-Nuclear (S)

NUMBER=2-297441

BYLINE=David Gollust

DATELINE=State Department

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States renewed charges Friday that Iran, despite denials, has an active nuclear weapons program. U-S officials say their contention is supported by new satellite pictures of two suspect sites in central Iran. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: The State Department says the photos "reinforce already-grave" U-S concerns that Iran has a secret nuclear weapons program. The commercial satellite imagery carried by C-N-N and other news outlets show two sites in central Iran -- one described as a heavy-water facility for plutonium production and the other a uranium enrichment plant. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters the latter facility was being built partially underground, and is inconsistent with Iran's claims that its nuclear intentions are peaceful:

///Boucher actuality///

That facility was probably never intended by Iran to be a declared component of the peaceful program. Instead Iran has been caught constructing a secret underground site where it could produce fissile material.

///end act///

Iran is dismissing charges the sites are related to a weapons program and says it has invited U-N inspectors to visit them in February. Spokesman Boucher said Iranian authorities had repeatedly rebuffed calls for international access to the facilities. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/PT