Yearly Archives: 2024

Iranian Regime Ramps Up Efforts on Nuclear Detonators, says NCRI’s Washington Office

Fri 20 Dec 2024 | 08:56 PM

In a news conference today, the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) issued a stark warning about the Iranian regime’s escalated activities aimed at developing nuclear weapons, particularly focusing on detonators crucial for nuclear explosions. Soona Samsami, the NCRI’s US Representative, and Alireza Jafarzadeh, the Washington Office’s Deputy Director address the conference. According to recent intelligence gathered by the Iranian Resistance, the METFAZ facility, officially known as the Center for Research and Expansion of Technologies on Explosions and Impact, is spearheading these efforts under the country’s secretive military apparatus.METFAZ operates as a subdivision of the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND), a unit of the Iranian Ministry of Defense that has long been under international scrutiny for its role in potential weaponization efforts. Brigadier General Reza Mozafarinia, who reports directly to the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, commands this critical operation. The NCRI’s report highlights intensified activities at the Sanjarian site, now internally referred to as the Meshkat Complex. This location, heavily guarded and shrouded in secrecy, serves as the primary research and development ground for nuclear detonation technologies, including the controversial Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) detonators. Such detonators are essential for triggering nuclear explosions and have been a central issue in negotiations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Further complicating the transparency of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, METFAZ is reported to conduct some of its operations under the guise of Arvin Kimia Abzar, a company ostensibly involved in the oil and gas sector. However, the NCRI asserts that this company is a cover for the regime’s work on high-explosive materials, with key personnel deeply embedded in nuclear weapons projects. Saeed Borji, chairman of the board, and Akbar Motallebizadeh, CEO, are the linchpins in these operations. Both figures have extensive backgrounds in the military and defense sectors, particularly linked to nuclear weapons development. Borji, a longstanding member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since 1980, has been involved in numerous nuclear weapon projects, while Motallebizadeh heads the Advanced Materials Research and Technology Center, another segment of SPND focusing on chemical experiments.In part of her remarks, Samsami said, “I must underscore the urgent reality we face today. The Iranian regime, battered by setbacks in the region, is aggressively pushing forward with its nuclear ambitions, specifically accelerating the development of a nuclear warhead at facilities like METFAZ. This activity is carried out under the guise of civilian enterprises but make no mistake, it is driven by the regime’s defense sectors and aims to arm Iran with nuclear capabilities. The international community must prioritize immediate and unrestricted IAEA access to these sites to prevent Iran from further advancing toward nuclear armament.”Pointing to the regime’s three-decade-long policy of denial, deception, and duplicity regarding its nuclear weapons program, Samsami added, “The Iranian regime has demonstrated a consistent pattern of deceit and obstruction in its nuclear program, particularly in the weaponization aspects that are crucial for the development of a nuclear bomb. Despite clear warnings and extensive intelligence provided by the Iranian Resistance over the years, the regime has exploited periods of diplomatic engagement to advance its nuclear ambitions covertly. It is time for the international community to acknowledge the failure of past approaches and respond with decisive actions, including reinstating comprehensive sanctions and ensuring rigorous inspections. The safety of the region and the broader international community depends on our resolve to prevent this regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.”Alireza Jafarzadeh, the Deputy Director of the NCRI’s Washington Office, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The international community must act swiftly to address these developments. Our intelligence confirms that the regime is advancing its nuclear weapons program under the cover of civilian applications. This not only violates international treaties but poses a grave threat to regional and global security.”Jafarzadeh further called for immediate inspections of the newly identified sites by the IAEA and for the international community to reimpose stringent sanctions that were relaxed in recent years. “Transparency is non-existent in the regime’s nuclear program, and their deception has reached new heights. It is crucial for the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action and for the IAEA to be granted access to these critical sites without further delay.”He urged the international community and the IAEA to focus not just on the quantity and enrichment levels of uranium but on the weaponization aspects of Iran’s nuclear activities. The NCRI advocates for the referral of Iran’s nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council and the reinstatement of all related sanctions through a snapback mechanism.The NCRI has been at the forefront of exposing the Iranian regime’s nuclear activities for over two decades, often providing pivotal information that has led to international inspections and sanctions, including the August 2002 revelation about the Natanz nuclear enrichment site and the Heavy Water facility in Arak. This latest revelation is part of the group’s ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities and supporting international efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and advocating for a democratic transition in Iran..

Tech journalist putting together investor group to buy Washington Post, rejects Musk

Tech reporter Kara Swisher is working toward assembling a group of investors to purchase The Washington Post from billionaire Jeff Bezos. “The Post can do better… it’s so maddening to see what’s happening. … Why not me? Why not any of us?” Swisher told Axios in a report on Friday. The Washington Post has reportedly suffered an exodus of high-profile talent,is losing money, has struggled to fill key positions and has seen employee morale plummet in recent years. The paper also irked readers when it announced this year that it would not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. The decision, which angered multiple staffers at the paper and prompted some editorial staff members and staffers to resign, was favored by Bezos.BEFORE NON-ENDORSEMENT DECISION, WASHINGTON POST CALLED TRUMP ‘DREADFUL’ AND ‘WORST PRESIDENT OF MODERN TIMES’ Tech reporter Kara Swisher is working towards assembling a group of investors to purchase The Washington Post from billionaire Jeff Bezos, per Axios.  (Getty Images)However, Bezos has given no indication he is willing to sell. Swisher preemptively rejected pro-Trump billionaire Elon Musk’s participation in the investor consortium in comments to Axios.”Hopefully not Elon,” Swisher said, “though he seems pretty busy these days being President (Not) Elect.”Musk has become a target of attacks from liberal media outlets and Democratic lawmakers after he endorsed and supported President-elect Trump’s campaign. “Elon Musk, the guy who really runs things. He’s not just Trump’s co-president. I think that’s way too low a title,” MSNBC’s Chris Hayes said during his Wednesday monologue. “He’s the head dude in charge and House Republicans certainly know who they are taking their marching orders from.”WASHINGTON POST WRITER OUTRAGED AT ABC NEWS FOR SETTLEMENT WITH TRUMP: ‘NEVER LIVE DOWN THIS CAPITULATION’ Billionaire Elon Musk appeared alongside President-elect Trump multiple times during his campaign.  ((Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images))While Musk has yet to respond directly to Swisher’s comments, he entered the media landscape in full force by purchasing Twitter in 2022. Musk has since changed the name of the company to X, aiming to create an “everything app.” Axios CEO Jim VandHei responded to Swisher’s mention of Musk on X, saying: “She expects lots of competition IF Bezos budges on selling. “Hopefully not Elon,” she said. Doubt [Musk] wants Post…”Swisher and The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP