ISIS (.pdf):

ISIS obtained the document below from several sources. It summarizes a briefing given in Vienna by Olli Heinonen, the IAEA's Deputy Director General of Safeguards in February 2008 to member states, including Iran. The notes describe the technical basis for the IAEA's outstanding questions about the scope and direction of Iran's alleged nuclear weaponization studies. Specifically, it describes some of the information contained on a laptop obtained in Iran by an intelligence operation in 2004, as well as additional information provided by IAEA member states to the IAEA more recently. The information presented, which included multimedia files, describes several aspects of what could be nuclear weapons development-instructions on how to communicate internally using first names only, missile re-entry vehicle research including the chronology of events-separation of the missile, loss-of-tracking, switching on of altitude detectors, timing of firing devices-leading to an explosion at an altitude of about 600 meters. The IAEA notes that the altitude described in the documents excludes the possibility that the warhead was designed to accommodate conventional explosives or chemical and biological charges.

The briefing notes also summarize the reactions of Iranian diplomats at the meeting. They insist repeatedly that the allegations are groundless and the documents fabricated.

The news media have discussed the laptop documents extensively. In particular, the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have provided extensive coverage. But the IAEA briefing is the most detailed public information on these documents and Iran's alleged weaponization studies. As such, its release allows a more informed public debate about Iran's nuclear program and the IAEA's actions to understand that program. ...

Posted by Laura at April 18, 2008 03:43 PM