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Sensitive Nuclear Data Leaked to Media - Iran Protests

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 17 -- Speaking at a meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials here Friday, Ali Asghar Soltani, deputy head of political and international affairs at the Foreign Ministry, expressed Iran's strong objection over the recent leakage of sensitive information on its nuclear dossier to the Western press and media, IRNA reported.

Soltani, at the meeting, further underlined the Islamic Republic's great concern over the recent media frenzy and public discussions concerning the dossier.

He then expressed similar concerns raised by other member states, particularly those in the Non-Aligned Movement, over the matter, adding, "Once again, certain confidential and technical information about the research project of dividing Pu (plutonium) was provided to the Security Council members that led to the devising of a well-documented and comprehensive discussion and expressing of opinions on a wide range of issues highlighted in the report of the IAEA deputy head, including the Pu project."
He asserted that the information was leaked to the Western media before he could even give it to the Security Council on June 16, arguing, "The sad part of the matter is that Mr. Pierre Goldsmith, the IAEA deputy head, also concluded his report on the safeguards before finalization of the study and research on the discs, which Iran had submitted to Vienna and far ahead of the technical discussions with the Iranian scientists at the IAEO."
The information also stated that a group of IAEA inspectors would visit Tehran in a bid to carry out a general technical research work within the two weeks."
He stressed that the report and the rushed-up results, in view of the fact that the issue was extremely sensitive and technical, would be confusing both for the general public and diplomats at the IAEA.

"It was possible to avoid any misunderstanding about the deadline for production of Pu through a comprehensive review and report along with thorough explanations given by the IAEO," he maintained.

He also stressed that there is an obvious difference between the deadline of the research project on Pu and the related dates with other technical activities such as the purification process which is, by the way, a primary stage in the research project.

"Any laboratory could carry out the research work at another date and in an appropriate time. The IAEO has told the IAEA that the project was wrapped up in 1993 and after that the organization did not send any other sample to the nuclear plant for research in a bid to produce or divide Pu. The matter is still pending and other dates mentioned in the documented report at the IAEA are not related to this project," the Iranian official further explained.

Soltani, in conclusion, called for the IAEA head and officials to make every effort to safeguard any sensitive and confidential information on Iran's nuclear dossier and activities from getting leaked to the press and the media.

He further asked the secretariat of the agency to take similar cautionary measures when devising and preparing reports on the dossier for the Security Council.

GN/1771