EU Intel Reports: Iran Sought Illicit Nuclear Weapons Technology In 2022
Benjamin Weinthal
Contributor
The intelligence agencies of European countries determined that the Islamic Republic of Iran sought nuclear weapons technology during 2022.
Contributor
The intelligence agencies of European countries determined that the Islamic Republic of Iran sought nuclear weapons technology during 2022.
The agencies published their findings during the first six months of 2023, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which first located and translated the damning material asserting Iran’s regime sought weapons of mass destruction (WMD) technology.
According to the report of the Netherlands General and Intelligence Security Service (AVID), “The AIVD and MIVD [ Military Intelligence] succeeded a number of times in preventing Russia and Iran from acquiring Dutch knowledge or technology for their nuclear weapons programs."
The Dutch intelligence document did not disclose the nature of the knowledge and technology that the clerical regime sought to obtain.
The report noted that the Dutch intelligence establishment “succeeded a number of times in preventing Russia and Iran, among others, from procuring materials, technology, and (applied) scientific knowledge in the Netherlands that they could have used for their nuclear weapons programs. It concerned, among other things, high-tech products that play an important role in the modernization of weapons of mass destruction. The AIVD has issued official communications in this regard to the government and to financial institutions."
The Netherlands intelligence agencies also covered the Islamic Republic’s biological weapons program. "In 2022, the counter-proliferation unit continued its investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria. The focus was on the current situation, but it also examined which generals of the Syrian regime are responsible for poison gas attacks in the past. In 2022, the unit also continued research into biological weapons programs of several countries of concern, including Russia and Iran. Additional focus was on recent developments in biotechnology and its possible consequences for the development of new types of biological weapons, “wrote the intelligence officials.
Since the 2000s there have been numerous reports of Iran trying to procure nuclear or missile technology from Western and other sources, and many individuals and entities have been sanctioned by the United States and its allies for assisting Iran’s covert operations.
But the Iranian regime and government-controlled media have rarely reacted directly to such accusations. On the contrary, Iranian officials often claim that their nuclear and missile programs are “entirely homegrown” and insist that they have made progress “despite sanctions.”
Mohammad Eslami the head of Iran’s nuclear program claimed in March that “We are a nuclear country without any foreign help.”
Behruz Kamalvandi, the nuclear program spokesman said in May that any attack or other punitive measures against Iran’s “peaceful” nuclear technology is meaningless because the country is totally self-sufficient. He was addressing a gathering of Iranian senior diplomats abroad.
However, it is widely believed that Israeli secret services deeply penetrated Iran’s nuclear program and were able to explode the main uranium enrichment site in Natanz twice; in 2020 and 2021. Some observers speculated that Israel could have smuggled in the explosives by rigging components that Iran illicitly imported from abroad.
The German media outlet Bild reported, in 2019, the German engineering company The Krempel Group located in the southern city of Stuttgart sold electronic press boards to Iranian companies that were used in the production of rockets. Forces under the control of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fired Iranian regime-produced chemical missiles containing Krempel material, resulting in the severe gassing of 21 adults and children.
The Dutch intelligence report said Netherlands intelligence “prevented an Iranian scientist, who was associated with a sanctioned institute, to acquire relevant (applied) knowledge at a Dutch university of technology. That knowledge could have been of use in Iran's nuclear weapons program. If necessary, the AIVD will also investigate new developments in the field of weapons of mass destruction."
The Swedish Security Service said in its 2022-2023 situational assessment "Iran engages in industrial espionage, which is mainly aimed at the Swedish high-tech industry and Swedish products that can be used in nuclear weapons program.”
According to the Swedish intelligence report, "Swedish technology as products with dual uses and critical cutting-edge products for both civilian and military use is of interest to Iran. Iran procures both technology and knowledge through illegal methods, and develops its own ability through Swedish universities and research institutions."
The Swedish intelligence officials added "Iran – a tangible security threat... conducts intelligence activities and security-threatening activities in and against Sweden and Swedish interests in the form of intelligence gathering, influencing opposition parties and through procurement activities. The Iranian intelligence services have also for a long time carried out attacks against people [in Sweden] who are perceived to threaten the stability of the Iranian regime."
The Swedish Security Service "Authoritarian states strengthen their positions.The threat from foreign power is high. Russia, but also China and Iran, still constitute the largest security threats to Sweden. Authoritarian states have in the latest the years become increasingly offensive in their actions. They act aggressively and use all of society's resources.”
Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) released its national intelligence report on June 20. The report stated: "The authorities for the protection of the constitution were able to find, in 2022, a consistently high number of indications of proliferation relevant procurement attempts by Iran for its nuclear program."
The German national intelligence report defines "Proliferation," as "The activities of foreign powers also include procuring products and knowledge for the production of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, other armaments or elements of new weapon systems."
Germany’s sixteen states release individual intelligence reports. The German state of Rheinland-Pfalz, said in its June 5 report: "An important area of responsibility of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is the reconnaissance and prevention of attempts by so-called critical states which owned weapons of mass destruction and the necessary carrier technology as well as the access to the relevant know-how. Because they themselves in their development and production are often not in a position [they would like to be in], these states try to illegally obtain the necessary knowledge, products and goods using secret service methods. Such procurement attempts have been going on for years, most of all by Iran.”
The state of Bavaria said in its April intelligence report"[t]he procurement structures of other proliferation relevant risk states like China, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, and Syria act in the same way [as Russia] and are moving ahead greatly with their conspiratorial procurement activities."
The intelligence agency for Germany’s most populous state, Nordrhein-Westfalen wrote in its April report in the section covering proliferation of biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction (ABC weapons)"At-risk states in this connection appear to be mainly Iran, Pakistan, Syria, and Russia."
The Nordrhein-Westfalen agency report added "In the area of proliferation, the sanctions imposed on Russia lead to covert, intelligence-led evasion and purchasing efforts. Iran also continues to seek technology for its programs."
(Iran International’s Mardo Soghom contributed to this report.)
The senators expressed their concern over reports that the administration is trying to reach a limited nuclear deal with Iran, which it apparently intends to keep out of the US Congress by not signing a formal document.
“It is crucial for your administration to remain aligned with Congressional efforts related to Iran’s nuclear program and not agree to a pact that fails to achieve our nation’s critical interests,” the letter said.
The Jewish Insider reported that the bipartisan coalition was formed and the text drafted before recent revelations of talks with Iran, but it now has assumed new significance.
The letter was led by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and James Lankford (R-OK), but there are several Democratic senators who previously supported the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal.
While the Biden administration has not denied regular direct and indirect contacts with Iran, diplomatic activities picked up speed this week as Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited Qatar and Oman, traditional mediators between Washington and Tehran. Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani also met with the European Union’s negotiator Enrique Mora in Qatar.
“We exchanged views and discussed a range of issues including negotiations on sanctions lifting,” Bagheri-Kani tweeted after the meeting. The Iranian régime calls the negotiations talks to lift sanctions, not to a nuclear deal.
“It is imperative today that we strengthen our efforts to deter Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability. We must make Iran understand, in no uncertain terms, that further advances in its nuclear program will be met with unified international action,” the 26 senators wrote to Biden.
US lawmakers have repeatedly complained about the Biden administration’s lax sanctions enforcement against Iran, especially with China steadily increasing imports of embargoed Iranian oil.
Since Biden’s election in 2020, Iran’s daily oil exports have jumped from 250,000 barrels per day to nearly 1.5 million, mostly going to China through illicit methods.
“Iran simply cannot be allowed to advance its nuclear program with impunity and the PRC cannot be given a pass for accelerating Iran’s destabilizing behavior. We urge you to restore this posture of deterrence and provide leadership to strengthen the resolve of the international community,” the letter said.
Last week House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul also sent a letter to President Joe Biden saying, “I am disturbed by recent revelations that the Administration has re-engaged in ‘proximity talks’ with the Iranian regime, and that the results of these discussions have included the apparent greenlighting of sizable payments to Iran.“
He was referring to the White House allowing Iraq to release more the $2.7 billion in Iran’s frozen funds earlier this month.
McCaul urged Biden to respect the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA), which was enacted during the finalization of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 to allow Congress to oversee dealings with Tehran. The Obama administration decided not to make the JCPOA nuclear deal a treaty, given opposition in Congress at the time and agreed to INARA to neutralize opposition among lawmakers.
„We urge you to take meaningful steps to curb Iran’s destabilizing activities and deter the regime from pursuing this nefarious ambition any further,“ the senators told President Biden.