know-how and do, know-how and don't

As stated in the top left corner, the writings in this blog are my understandings about Iran's nuclear issues. Although I am proud of my nationality, I don't like the way current authorities in Iran rule my homeland. I hate it when intelligent productive individuals are deprived of decision-making positions because of their way of thinking. Iran, with a good administrative lead, could have been in a much better position than what it is now.

Therefore, what you read here is a blend of nationalism and hatred about the nuclear issues. I am not trying to justify whatever the Iranian government has done or is doing, but I will challenge all parties involved.

Today, Washington Posts's Iran Was Offered Nuclear Parts discussed the information found from Iran's 1987 deal with Khan's associate. Iran was offered the knowledge, design, and parts for a nuclear weapon program.

"There is evidence, however, that Iran used the offer as a buyer's guide, acquiring some of the pricier items elsewhere, officials said . . .

. . . Over the last two years, the IAEA has uncovered an 18-year-old nuclear program, which the Iranians began in secret and in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But because much of the equipment can be used for energy development and there is no evidence of past weapons work, the violations are technical and based on Iran's not reporting the program . . .

. . . Khan and his associates stood to gain millions from the sales, but the agency believes Iran outsmarted the dealers by buying much of the equipment and technology at lower prices from European, Russian and Chinese competitors during the early 1990s. The equipment was used for programs that could develop nuclear energy, and there is no evidence the materials were assembled in a manner consistent with bomb-building."

OK. They aquired the knowledge some 15 years ago, they bought the centrifuges from Khan's associates, and they obtained some other parts.

Some questions are to be asked from Iranian officials:
1. Why didn't they make the bomb then if they knew how to do it and aquired the stuff?
2. Why did they wait for the Bushehr Power Plant to come close to operation? intentionally or unintentionally?
3. If they assert that their nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, why did they buy the stuff from black-market?
4. If they assert that their nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, why didn't they report their activities on-time?

possible scenarios/factors, part (1), Iranians are after the bomb:

1. It was delayed for financial/technical/administrative problems.
2. unintentionally
3. not applicable.
4. not applicable.

possible scenarios/factors, part (2), Iranians are not after the bomb:

1. not applicable.
2. intentionally
3. M. Zarif, Iran's embassador to UN, said on an interview with CBC (I can't find the link, hope I am wrong about the CBC) that Iran couldn't aquire the parts from the legal market due to sanctions.
4. although they didn't want to, they eventually had to. I personally don't blame them if their justification for question 3 is sound. I wouldn't have told anybody if I got such a thing from black-market.

I thik the second scenario makes more sence, or I may say perfect sence.

My understanding is that the Mullahs did ask "intelligent productive individuals" for their nuclear plans, otherwise they wouldn't have been capable of planning such sophisticated (and impressive) programs. (The mullahs or their family members could not have done so!) There are many many Iranian scientists outside the country that don't take their chances of going back to Iran.