Israel Matzav

Mousavi started Iran's nuclear program

Presidential elections are being held in Iran on Friday, and the media are abuzz with the possibility that 'reformist' Mir Hossein Mousavi could oust incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But what would Mousavi's election mean for Iran's nuclear program? It's doubtful that it will mean anything at all - in all likelihood, the nuclear program will continue as before. Please consider this.

International Atomic Energy Agency documents revealed that Iran began a secret nuclear program during the tenure of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader running against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The documents, which Iran transferred to the IAEA several years ago, show that Tehran decided in 1987 to purchase the centrifuges it is using to enrich uranium.

Mousavi, who is seen as a moderate candidate in the West, served as Iran's prime minister between 1981 and 1989, and while that position has since been eliminated from Iranian politics, it was an executive position that was similar in nature to the current presidential role.

One of the documents revealed that the then-head of Iran's atomic energy organization requested Mousavi's approval for purchasing the centrifuges on the black market. Iran subsequently acquired the centrifuges through the smuggling ring of Pakistani scientist Abd al-Qadir Khan.

The document from March 1987, classified as secret, said that Iran's then-chief atomic energy official said Tehran's activities related to Khan must remain secret. The document appeared as part of a quarterly report the IAEA issues as part of its supervision of Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran transferred the documents to the energy agency after it learned in 2002 that Tehran was secretly developing the nuclear facility in Natanz, where the centrifuges bought on the black market are being used to enrich uranium - in opposition to its agreement with the IAEA.

Sounds like an Emily Latella moment for people who thought Mousavi would end the nuclear program, doesn't it?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:47 PM