As Iran’s problems with recent cyberattacks by, for instance, the Stuxnet malware may continue, the UN nuclear watchdog Yukiya Amano’s quarterly reports on Iran’s nuclear program continue yielding fodder for media speculations about possible military dimensions. In his February 2011 report, Yukiya Amano had provided a long list of areas where Iran doesn’t meet its nuclear obligations (not really surprising since the country does neither implement the Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty nor its modified Code 3.1 subsidiary agreement). In his latest report yesterday, Amano reiterates those areas where Iran may not be cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding “outstanding issues” which give rise to concern about possible military dimensions. He reports that,

“Since the last report of the Director General on February 25, 2011, the Agency has received further information related to such possible undisclosed nuclear related activities, which is currently being assessed by the Agency. As previously reported by the Director General, there are indications that certain of these activities may have continued beyond 2004.”

Well, Amano refers to “indications that certain of these activities may have continued beyond 2004” now the third time, after having done so in his reports of September and November 2010. That there might be “further information related to such undisclosed nuclear related activities, which is currently being assessed by the Agency” he had disclosed in an uncommon and quite remarkable interview with the Washington Post in February 2011 when he answered to the incipient question (or statement) by Lally Weymouth that, “Many believe that Iran carried out nuclear weapons research in the past, including work on weaponization. . . . Do you agree with this?”

“We receive information from various countries and collect information from our own sources that give us concern over the possible use of nuclear materials for military purposes – in the past and perhaps now.”

After years of allegations and murmurs based on inconclusive evidence on Iran’s “alleged studies” (now “outstanding issues”) it is hoped that eventually there will be some revelation based on hard evidence on the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.  

Last modification May 25, 2011.