Iran

Russia, Iran Agree That IAEA Should Resolve Nuclear Crisis

Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov wants the IAEA to handle the crisis (file photo) (CTK) 24 January 2006 -- Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov and his Iranian counterpart say Tehran's nuclear dispute must be resolved by diplomatic means within the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The declaration was issued in a brief statement tonight in Moscow following talks between Ivanov and Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.


The statement followed discussions between Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari and the head of Russia's Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom), Sergei Kiriyenko. The talks focused on Russia's participation in building Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant.


The United States and the European Union are concerned about Iran's recent resumption of its nuclear program. They want the matter to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.


Iran has denied charges that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, saying its program is for peaceful purposes.


(ITAR-TASS, Interfax, AP)

Who's Got The Bomb?

Who's Got The Bomb?

DECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS COUNTRIES:

country warheads (est.) date of first test

United States 10,500 1945

Russia 18,000 1949

United Kingdom 200 1952

France 350 1960

China 400 1964

India 60-90 1974

Pakistan 28-48 1998

North Korea 0-18 2006

Notes:

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, but it has not declared itself a nuclear-armed country.

South Africa constructed six uranium bombs but voluntarily dismantled them.

Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine all gave up the nuclear weapons that were on their territory when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.