U.N. inspectors have located traces of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium at an Iranian nuclear facility, a senior diplomat told the AP Tuesday, citing a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Agency inspectors found "particles" of highly enriched uranium that could be used in a weapons program at the facility at Natanz, said the diplomat.
Iranian officials did not contest the finding by the IAEA inspectors but argued the equipment was already contaminated by traces of enriched uranium when purchased by Tehran.
The diplomat said the report, prepared for a meeting of the U.N. agency's board, stressed the need for further inspections of the Natanz facility and Iran's nuclear programs in general to abolish concerns about the nature of its activities.
"It says that contamination is a possibility," as Iran claims, he said. "But there is work to be done to determine the plausibility of this." (Albawaba.com)
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