US Official: Iran Uses 'Denial and Deception' to Conceal Nuclear Weapons Program

A senior US official claims that Iran has resorted to denial and deception to hide its nuclear weapons production program. Kenneth Brill, the US representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that Iran's refusal to fully cooperate with the IAEA reflects its longstanding approach of denial and deception, which Iran employs as a cover for its military nuclear program. Mr. Brill made these remarks on Wednesday, the day after the IAEA released a report on Iran, which noted that several important questions regarding Iran's nuclear activities remain unanswered. The US has accused Iran of using its nuclear research program as a cover for producing nuclear weapons. However, Richard Boucher, the US State Department spokesman, declined to answer whether the US would ask the IAEA to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for sanctions. In another event on Wednesday, Hassan Rouhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that only a few minor questions remain in the IAEA report. Mr. Rouhani added that further and fairer investigations would show that Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful and conducted within legal frameworks. The IAEA report highlights two critical questions: the first is whether Iran has imported components for sophisticated centrifuges used in nuclear weapons production, and the second concerns the origin and nature of highly enriched uranium found at Iranian nuclear facilities.