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UN: Iranâ€™s Nuclear Capability Continues to Grow

25 May 2011 03:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The U.N. nuclear agency says it has new information about allegations that Iran has diverted parts of its nuclear program for military use, APA reports quoting voanews.com website.

Western news agencies say they obtained copies of the International Atomic Energy Agency report Tuesday. It is not clear who gave the information to the IAEA, which will discuss the report next month.

The document is said to confirm that Iran’s uranium enrichment stockpile is rising, despite international sanctions against Iran.

Also Tuesday, the United States announced new sanctions against seven foreign entities for delivering refined oil products to Iran in violation of a 1996 U.S. law.

The seven companies include Venezuelan state oil company Petroleus de Venezuela (PDVSA), two companies based in the United Arab Emirates and one each in Britain, Israel, Monaco and Singapore.

Venezuela condemned the sanctions, saying it is considering an appropriate response to the U.S. measure.

In a speech Tuesday to the U.S. Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the United States for adopting unilateral sanctions against Iran. Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran a threat to the existence of the Jewish state.

Mr. Netanyahu also urged the U.S. to stick to its commitment never to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

The United States and its allies have long accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program. Iran denies the charge.