From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Iran deceiving the world on its nuclear plans, Israeli atomic chief tells IAEA
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Iran continues to make progress on its military nuclear program, says Moshe Edri, head of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission.
“Iran continues to advance this program by gaining relevant technology and knowledge, along with fissile material in alarming amounts,” says Edri, speaking to the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“Iran has been conducting covert nuclear activities in undeclared sites for many years,” he continues. “The Agency has found concrete evidence of these activities, including the use of undeclared nuclear material and equipment.”
Edri charges that Iran “has continuously failed to provide technically credible explanations regarding these activities, and continues to deceive the Agency and the international community.”
He also points at Iran’s development of long-range ballistic missiles and support for terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East. “A nuclear-armed Iran, equipped with delivery systems, is not an option that Israel, or the world, can or should tolerate,” he says.
Edri singles out Syria as well, saying it has yet to adequately provide information about its clandestine nuclear reactor in Deir al-Zour, destroyed by Israel in 2007.
