"this development will encourage fear"

LET US REMEMBER THAT IRAN HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT THIS FACILITY, AND IRAN HAS SIGNED THE NPT. - ED.


Iran tells IAEA that it is building a 2nd enrichment facility

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has told the U.N. nuclear watchdog it has a second uranium enrichment plant under construction, a belated disclosure sure to heighten Western fears of an Iranian bid for atom bombs.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday Iran had revealed the existence of the plant to IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei on Monday, just as six world powers and Iran prepare to discuss its disputed nuclear drive on October 1.

The IAEA said Iran had told ElBaradei in a letter that the plant would enrich uranium only to a level needed to generate electricity.

"The agency also understands from Iran that no nuclear material has been introduced into the facility," International Atomic Energy Agency spokesman Marc Vidricaire said.

The agency requested specific information and an immediate inspection of the plant to ensure it was for peaceful purposes.

read more @ reuters

THAT DOES NOT STOP SOME PEOPLE FROM FEAR-MONGERING, OBVIOUSLY TO ASSIST IN THE EFFORTS TO SWAY WORLD OPINION AGAINST IRAN.

BBC: Iran 'has second enrichment site'

excerpts:

Iran has revealed the existence of a second uranium enrichment plant, the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed.

...The US, UK and France are set to accuse Iran of concealing the plant later on Friday, media reports say.

[WHY MUST THEY BE 'SET TO ACCUSE' SINCE IRAN HAS ALREADY REVEALED THE EXISTENCE OF THE TOTALLY LEGAL FACILITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION????? IT'S ALL SIMPLY TO PUT IRAN IN THE WORSE POSSIBLE LIGHT TO JUSTIFY THE COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIABLE ATTACK THAT ISRAEL WANTS ON IRAN. - ED]

They and other Western nations have long feared that Iran is planning to develop an atomic weapon.

The IAEA confirmed it received a letter from Iran on Monday informing it that "a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction".

Iran told the agency that no nuclear material had been introduced into the plant, and enrichment levels would only be high enough to make nuclear fuel, not a bomb.

In response, the IAEA has requested Iran to "provide specific information and access to the facility as soon as possible", an IAEA statement adds.

Earlier, the New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the secret site - built inside a mountain near the ancient city of Qom - is not yet complete, but could be ready for operation next year.

It said the facility is believed to be capable of holding some 3,000 centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium for electricity or, at higher levels of enrichment, for a bomb.

This development will encourage fears that Iran has other secret facilities that could be used to make a nuclear bomb, the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, says in London.

and that's what it's all about, right from the horse's mouth -- encouraging fears. read more @ bbc