Starting with the Times Online piece:
Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.
The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.
An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Times that his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator.
The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.
“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application,” said David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, which has analysed hundreds of pages of documents related to the Iranian programme. “This is a very strong indicator of weapons work.”
Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London makes one specific thing clear:
"The most shattering conclusion is that, if this was an effort that began in 2007, it could be a casus belli. If Iran is working on weapons, it means there is no diplomatic solution."
He concludes "Is this the smoking gun? That’s the question people should be asking. It looks like the smoking gun. This is smoking uranium."
Sky News Confirms the document's existence:
A document containing new evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons is genuine, according to Sky sources.
Question for Obama- Still thinking speaking unconditionally with Ahmadinejad is a good idea? Still think dealing with someone that lies to your face on a continuous basis is a smart move?
How naive.
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