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- Dec 29, 2008
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International Atomic Energy Agency documents revealed that Iran began a secret nuclear program during the tenure of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader running against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The documents, which Iran transferred to the IAEA several years ago, show that Tehran decided in 1987 to purchase the centrifuges it is using to enrich uranium.
Mousavi, who is seen as a moderate candidate in the West, served as Iran's prime minister between 1981 and 1989, and while that position has since been eliminated from Iranian politics, it was an executive position that was similar in nature to the current presidential role.
One of the documents revealed that the then-head of Iran's atomic energy organization requested Mousavi's approval for purchasing the centrifuges on the black market. Iran subsequently acquired the centrifuges through the smuggling ring of Pakistani scientist Abd al-Qadir Khan.
The document from March 1987, classified as secret, said that Iran's then-chief atomic energy official said Tehran's activities related to Khan must remain secret. The document appeared as part of a quarterly report the IAEA issues as part of its supervision of Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran transferred the documents to the energy agency after it learned in 2002 that Tehran was secretly developing the nuclear facility in Natanz, where the centrifuges bought on the black market are being used to enrich uranium - in opposition to its agreement with the IAEA.
As part of its cooperation with the agency, Tehran must prove that its nuclear energy program is meant for peaceful purposes and not for developing nuclear weapons, as Israel, the United States and other Western nations believe to be the case.
IAEA: Ahmadinejad election rival launched Iran nuclear program - Haaretz - Israel News
Of course, that was 22 years ago, and it may be that his views and policies have changed since then.
The documents, which Iran transferred to the IAEA several years ago, show that Tehran decided in 1987 to purchase the centrifuges it is using to enrich uranium.
Mousavi, who is seen as a moderate candidate in the West, served as Iran's prime minister between 1981 and 1989, and while that position has since been eliminated from Iranian politics, it was an executive position that was similar in nature to the current presidential role.
One of the documents revealed that the then-head of Iran's atomic energy organization requested Mousavi's approval for purchasing the centrifuges on the black market. Iran subsequently acquired the centrifuges through the smuggling ring of Pakistani scientist Abd al-Qadir Khan.
The document from March 1987, classified as secret, said that Iran's then-chief atomic energy official said Tehran's activities related to Khan must remain secret. The document appeared as part of a quarterly report the IAEA issues as part of its supervision of Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran transferred the documents to the energy agency after it learned in 2002 that Tehran was secretly developing the nuclear facility in Natanz, where the centrifuges bought on the black market are being used to enrich uranium - in opposition to its agreement with the IAEA.
As part of its cooperation with the agency, Tehran must prove that its nuclear energy program is meant for peaceful purposes and not for developing nuclear weapons, as Israel, the United States and other Western nations believe to be the case.
IAEA: Ahmadinejad election rival launched Iran nuclear program - Haaretz - Israel News
Of course, that was 22 years ago, and it may be that his views and policies have changed since then.
