Anonymous UN diplomats claim: Highly enriched uranium found in Iran

Reuters first reported, quoting diplomats for the UN in Vienna who wish to remain anonymous, that preliminary analysis of microscopic dust collected from equipment at the now razed Lavizan-Shiyan research center in Iran contained traces of "highly enriched uranium" in the samples.

However; further tests are being conducted. "It's no smoking gun. There could be many explanations. But it increases pressure on Iran to come clean about Lavizan," Reuters reported the European diplomat for the UN as saying.

Back in 2003, inspectors had discovered that there was several sites in Iran which tested positive for highly enriched uranium, but the uranium was believed to have come from equipment that was previously from Pakistan. Reuters's sources are likewise unsure if the current reports find previous contamination or is the result of Iran's research.

"Even if it is the same contamination, this is a significant finding because it indicates something was going on at Lavizan. It could be part of Iran's known centrifuge program or a parallel program," said former UN weapons inspector and former head of the Institute for Science and International Security, David Albright.

"These comments lack any importance and do not come from a real source," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi.

Iran has denied that any nuclear work has been done at this facility and called the claims made by the UN "baseless and without importance," added Asefi.

On Friday Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "they are trying to frighten our country by waging a propaganda campaign using strong words. The people of Iran and the country are not afraid of them" and that "this whole thing is just psychological propaganda, but they know the Islamic republic nation of Iran is a strong nation. I think they have better sense than to have a war with Iran. Every country has the right to defend its right in accordance with the agreed way."

Iran started to enrich uranium at its Natanz nuclear facility April 11, but continues to claim its program is for "peaceful purposes."