Iran denies engagement in P2 nuclear centrifuge research

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 26, 2004

Iran denies engagement in P2 nuclear centrifuge research

Iran said Wednesday that it is unnecessary to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) outcome of its research on centrifuge P2, the official IRNA news agency reported.

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Iran said Wednesday that it is unnecessary to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) outcome of its research on centrifuge P2, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The IRNA quoted Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani as saying that Tehran does not have the centrifuge,and was only conducting related research or designing a prototype.

Rowhani was responding to an IAEA report issued Tuesday that indicated the discovery of an advanced P2 centrifuge that Iran could use to enrich uranium for a weapon.

The report, however, said Iran has agreed to suspend its enrichment and centrifuge testing program.

"Iran is engaged in other types of research but has not reported to the IAEA and does not deem it necessary to report to the UN," the IRNA quoted Rowhani as saying.

Also on Wednesday, Iran responded to the reported finding in Iran by the IAEA of traces of polonium-210, a radioactive element that can help trigger a nuclear chain reaction.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Hamid-Reza Asefi described it as a misunderstanding that "will be verified by the agency in the near future."

In a related development, the US envoy to the IAEA, Kenneth Brill, said Iran needs to demonstrate to the IAEA and international community that it has totally given up the nuclear program other than for civilian use.

IAEA board of directors is expected to discuss the report on Mar. 8 to decide whether Iran has kept its commitment related to the nuclear issue.

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