Iran using Western tunneling technology to move nuclear facilities underground

Speculation about whether Israel will strike Iran increased with yesterday's release of a United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency report, which says that Iran has been trying to develop the capabilities to produce an atomic bomb small enough to put on a missile capable of hitting Israel.

Iran is following the lead of China and Russia in protecting its Natanz and Qom nuclear facilities by moving them underground, Defense Intelligence Agency Director General Ronald Burgess told a Senate Committee in February.

“Buried, hardened facilities and improved air defenses are key elements of Iran’s extensive program to protect its nuclear infrastructure from destruction,” Burgess said.

“The spread of western tunneling technology and equipment is contributing to a rise in construction by countries and organizations that have not previously used modern techniques,” he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said yesterday in an interview with Israel Radio that Israel “has not yet decided to embark on any operation” against Iran.

Barak, in a June 2, 2009, meeting with U.S. lawmakers, “estimated a window between six and 18 months from now in which stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons might still be viable,” he was quoted as saying in a WikiLeaks-released State Department cable.

“After that, any military solution would result in unacceptable collateral damage,” Barak was quoted as saying.

Reference (Business Week)

Picture: Gotthard Base Tunnel, two parallel tubes of over 35 miles each through the Swiss Alps