Top IAEA official in Iran to discuss charges of covert weapons program

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The UN nuclear agency's deputy chief has arrived in Teheran for talks with Iranian officials on persistent allegations that the Islamic republic is running a covert nuclear weapons program. IAEA Deputy Director-General Olli Heinonen's discussions Monday with Iranian officials will focus on allegations that Iran is testing high explosives and seeking to design a missile re-entry vehicle, two features which could have use for nuclear weapons. Iran dismisses as "fabricated" the allegations raised by US intelligence agencies and insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful and geared solely toward producing electricity. The United States and some of its allies contend that Teheran has been trying to gain nuclear weapons capability.