WASHINGTON — A Syrian facility that Israel bombed last year had similarities to a nuclear reactor and chemically processed uranium particles were found at the site, but a final determination can’t be made until Syria provides “the necessary transparency,” a new U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency report out Wednesday says.
“The onus of this investigation is on Syria ,” said a senior U.N. official, who requested anonymity because the report is confidential.
A separate IAEA report says that Iran has persisted in stymieing the agency’s probe of its nuclear program and continues to defy U.N. Security Council demands to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.
“There is no communication whatsoever, no progress regarding possible military dimensions of their ( Iran’s ) program,” the senior U.N. official said.
The reports served as stark reminders of one of the thorniest security issues that will confront President-elect Barack Obama — global nuclear proliferation — particularly Iran’s refusal to suspend the uranium enrichmen… >>>
