Satellite Images show Iran to be developing nuclear ‘plan b’

There are new concerns that Iran is furthering its nuclear weapons programme with satellite images revealing a plant which may have the capability of producing plutonium.

The images from The Telegraph show steam rising from the heavily-guarded Arak heavy water production plant. Other images show that Arak is guarded by anti-aircraft missiles – more than any other plant in the country. The images also show the Fordo complex, concealed under a mountain.

Fordo was a point of negotiation between Iran and world leaders at talks this week in Kazakhstan.

Some sanctions already in place will be lowered in exchange for concessions over Fordo, where uranium has been enriched.

There is growing international concern over the Arak plant and although international inspectors have been banned from the plant since August 2011, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have examined the reactor.

Iran has told the agency that the reactor will be operating in the first three months of next year.

However, the country still lacks the capacity to produce plutonium, unlike North Korea who do have the technological capabililty.

In return for relaxed sanctions from a six-nation group – the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – Iran has agreed to ship 20% of its uranium out of the country, leaving only enough to fuel a research reactor in Tehran.

The chief of the Iranian delegation, Saeed Jalili, welcomed the offer saying: “We consider these talks a positive step which could be completed by taking a positive and constructive approach and taking reciprocal steps…We believe this is a turning point.”

Nuclear experts are set to meet in Istanbul on the 18^th of March to discuss details of the proposal.

Eleanor Mackay