Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/16/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / IRAN / NUCLEAR (L-O)

NUMBER=2-314164

BYLINE=MELANIE SULLY

DATELINE=VIENNA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A U-S diplomat says Iran has a long way to go to convince the International Atomic Energy Agency and the rest of the world that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, as it claims. The U-S ambassador to the I-A-E-A says Iran has been deceiving the world and is not cooperating with the U-N nuclear watchdog agency. Melanie Sully reports from Vienna.

TEXT: Kenneth Brill, says a majority of the 35 countries represented on the I-A-E-A board of governors are genuinely worried about Tehran's nuclear ambitions. He says Iran's past deceit has fueled these concerns.

/// BRILL ACT ///

The classic example of why people are concerned about the Iran nuclear program is the Kalaye Electric Company plant which was originally portrayed by the most senior Iranian officials as a simple watch factory or simple warehouse and over time its true use and purpose was conveyed to the I-A-E-A: it was a place where centrifuge experiments had been done.

/// END ACT ///

Tehran claims the centrifuges are used in its civilian program, but the United States insists that they are part of the government's secret weapons program.

/// 2nd BRILL ACT ///

Before the Iranian government would allow the agency inspectors into that facility they took it apart. They took out all the equipment. They repainted it. They did everything. They dug it up and they tried to hide as much as they could. Nonetheless the agency still found evidence of things going on there that clearly shouldn't have been. The question that we all have when we heard about the delay in the inspection was is this going to be yet another example of where Iran delays inspectors from coming to facilities that [the I-A-E-A] hasn't yet inspected while they try to clean it up and get rid of evidence.

/// END ACT ///

Unlike Libya, Mr. Brill says, Iran has not co-operated fully with the I-A-E-A, and this is cause for concern.

/// 3rd BRILL ACT ///

The lack of co-operation makes it very clear Iran has something to hide. We know it has something to hide. We think their actions have only underscored that fact in the past few days.

/// END ACT ///

The I-A-E-A board of governors will meet in June to consider once again what to do about Iran's nuclear ambitions. (SIGNED)

NEB/MS/MAR/FC/KL