Western powers are likely to seize on the International Atomic Energy Agency document, which has been preceded by media speculation in Israel of military strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, to press for more sanctions on the oil producer.
However, Russia and China fear the publication now of the IAEA‘s findings could hurt any chance of diplomacy resolving the long-running nuclear row and they have lobbied against it, signaling opposition to any new disciplinary measures against Iran.
Despite the upcoming report though, Iran rejects allegations of atomic weapons ambitions, saying its nuclear program is aimed at producing electricity. The report is tentatively scheduled to be submitted to IAEA member states on November 9 before a meeting the following week of the agency’s board of governors in Vienna.
The document is expected to give fresh evidence of research and other activities with little other application than bomb making, including studies linked to the development of an atom bomb trigger and computer modeling of a nuclear weapon.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com