Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/20/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN / NUCLEAR (L-O)

NUMBER=2-299878

BYLINE=STEVE BARAGONA

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: An Iranian resistance group has released what it says is new evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Officials of the United Nations nuclear monitoring group plans to investigate the claims. More from V-O-A's Steve Baragona.

TEXT: Representative Soona Samsami (eds: SOON-ah sam-SAM-ee) of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, gave reporters directions to what she says is a uranium enrichment project near the town of Ab-Ali, not far from the Iranian capital, Tehran. But she says you may not recognize it.

/// SAMSAMI ACT ///

It has been registered as a watch making factory.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Samsami's resistance group held a news conference in Washington (Thursday) to present their latest evidence on what they say is Iran's nuclear weapons program.

The group revealed last August that Iran was building nuclear facilities near the cities of Natanz, in central Iran, and Arak, in the southwest. Iran later confirmed it, but says the facilities are for civilian use, not bomb making.

Resistance group spokesman Alireza Jafarzadeh (eds: jah-FEHR-zeh-deh) is skeptical. He says after the group went public about the Natanz plant, Iran stopped work on expanding it. But, according to Mr. Jafarzadeh, the government plans to leave the plant open, to make heavy water for what it says are industrial purposes. Mr. Jafarzadeh says it's a dubious claim.

/// JAFARZADEH ACT ///

If it is not for nuclear weapons purposes, as now they're trying to claim, and is for industrial purposes, I don't know what industrial purposes they can justify it for, why they had kept it from the international inspectors, why they had hidden this.

/// END ACT ///

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency or I-A-E-A, will visit some of Iran's nuclear sites during the next several days.

But according to Ms. Samsami, they may not get to see some key equipment. She says Iranian officials moved machinery from the Natanz facility into a warehouse located elsewhere in the 25-thousand acre site. She predicts the I-A-E-A inspectors will not be allowed in this warehouse.

Ms. Samsami called on the United Nations Security Council to take up the issue. Iran's U-N mission did not return phone calls for comment. (Signed)

NEB/SB/RH