Iran 'trying to remove evidence showing that it tested detonators for nuclear weapons'

Tehran, Mar 8(ANI): Iran is trying to destroy evidence indicating its scientists tested detonators for nuclear weapons by clearing a military site, ahead of an inspection, the International Atomic Energy Agency has claimed.

Satellite photographs showed the appearance of earth-moving vehicles and haulage lorries at Parchin military base where Iranian scientists had reportedly experimented with a device that could only be used in the detonation system of a nuclear bomb.

An IAEA official claimed that satellite photographs also depict an attempt to sanitise the site, The Telegraph reports.

According to an IAEA statement, the allegation was based on documents supplied by member states that purported to show that Iranian experts had studied the stages of how to build a nuclear weapon in the period before 2003.

The information suggested that "Iran constructed a large explosives containment vessel [at Parchin] in which to conduct hydrodynamic experiments," said the report, adding that the IAEA had then independently obtained "commercial satellite images that are consistent with this information".

But Iran has rejected this claim, under the heading "possible military dimensions" of Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran had earlier denied permission to IAEA inspectors to visit Parchin.

The international community suspects that Iran continued carrying out experiments thoughntelligence agencies had said that Iran had stopped it in 2003.

Iran had earlier dismantled a suspected store for military equipment, Lavizan Shian base before the IAEA's inspection. (ANI)