Alleged Iran nuke site under intense watch

The Associated Press

VIENNA -- Satellite surveillance has shown an increase in activity at an Iranian site suspected of links to alleged secret work on nuclear weapons, officials tell The Associated Press.

The International Atomic Energy Agency and nations tracking Iran's nuclear program have been increasing efforts to monitor such sites following the strongest IAEA report to date on alleged Iranian research and development of such weapons. But the significance of the surveillance report is unclear.

One official cited intelligence from his home country, saying it appeared Tehran is trying to cover its tracks by sanitizing the site and removing any evidence of nuclear research and development. But two others reserved judgment while confirming sightings of increased activity.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby said he has "seen nothing to indicate that those concerns are warranted."

The focus is on a structure believed to be housing a large metal chamber at a military site that a Nov. 8 International Atomic Energy Agency report described as being used for nuclear-related explosives testing. The official with the most precise information said satellite imagery of the site, at Parchin, southwest of Tehran, shows an unusual number of vehicles arriving and leaving. He described the movements, recorded Nov. 4-5, as unusual and said his country views it as evidence that Iran is trying to "clean" the area of traces of weapons-related work.

Counterparts from two other countries agreed there had been more activity than usual at the site around that date but could not conclude that pointed to an attempted cover-up by the Iranians.

The Obama administration, meanwhile, cobbled together a new set of best-available sanctions against Iran Monday that underlined its limited capacity to force Tehran to halt the suspected nuclear weapons program.

The U.S. action was coordinated with Britain and Canada, but not with countries such as Russia and China that have far greater economic investments in the Islamic republic.

The American sanctions target Iran's oil and petrochemicals industry and Iranian companies involved in nuclear procurement or enrichment activity. The United States also declared Iran's banking system a center for money laundering, designed as a stern warning to financial institutions around the world to think twice before doing business with Tehran.