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Iran Empties Atomic Warehouse while IAEA Fails to Act
(Institute for Science and International Security) David Albright and Olli Heinonen - On Sep. 27, 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel revealed at the UN General Assembly the existence of a secret warehouse in the Turquz Abad district in Tehran, which he said held a range of equipment and materiel related to Iran's past or possibly on-going nuclear weapons efforts. He also stated that the facility had held 15 kg. of radioactive material that Iran had since dispersed around Tehran. Even after Netanyahu's UN speech, and Iran's continued efforts to empty out the site, the IAEA has still not inspected it. Iran denied having such a warehouse and stated that the site was a carpet cleaning facility. However, photographs show that the carpet cleaning site is directly across the street from the actual atomic warehouse. Commercial satellite images purchased by the Institute show the steady progression of containers disappearing from the site from July to September, when the last container had been removed. Israel stated categorically that it had intelligence information that the containers held nuclear-related equipment and materials. It is unfortunate that the IAEA did not act on this information, since, if the information is correct, the IAEA may have lost a remarkable opportunity to go to the site while shipping containers remained there, and irretrievably lost its capability to find the equipment and confirm its true purpose. The IAEA's lack of action or explanation of its inaction undermines its credibility and raises questions about its effectiveness in its Iran safeguards mission. This lack of action also undermines the implementation of the provisions of Section T of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This event directly contradicts those who hoped and proclaimed that the JCPOA would make it easier to mount inspections when concrete evidence would arise. Israel has certainly brought forth actionable, credible evidence to the IAEA. Yet, nothing has happened.