VIENNA: Iran is ready to boost significantly output at its most controversial nuclear plant, a new UN nuclear agency report showed yesterday, taking Tehran closer - in theory - to being able to develop a nuclear weapon.
In findings likely to set alarm bells ringing in Israel and beyond, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that the installation of equipment at its Fordo uranium enrichment plant was now “complete”.
Also taking an interest will be the “P5+1” world powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany - thought to be about to resume talks in early next year at the latest now that the US election is over.
The agency report reiterated its regular statement meanwhile that it was “unable... to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities”.
The report also said that Iran had converted some 40 percent of its around 230 kilos of 20-percent uranium into a form for use in a research reactor, making it much harder to convert for use in a weapon.
Iraq frees suspected Hezbollah operative
BAGHDAD: Suspected Hezbollah operative Ali Mussa Daqduq was freed by Iraqi authorities and flew to Lebanon oyesterday after an Iraqi court acquitted him of involvement in the killing of five US soldiers, his lawyer said.
The move was likely to anger the United States, which handed Daqduq over to Iraqi custody last December after failing to convince Baghdad to extradite him over his role in a 2007 kidnapping that ended in the killing of the soldiers.
“There was no reason for his detention. Last night the decision was made to release him. He is out now and arrived in Beirut two hours ago,” lawyer Abdulalmehdi Al Mutiri said by phone.
“There are no charges against him in Iraq. His detention was political, not legal.”
Earlier this year, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said he had received assurances from Iraq it would not release Daqduq, even though an Iraqi court had cleared him of the charges. Agenceis
