Washington, DC – Documents obtained by the Financial Times reveal a secret visit by Iranian nuclear experts to Russia between November 7 and 11, 2024. This move has raised serious concerns in the US about Tehran’s pursuit of sensitive technology that could be used in developing nuclear weapons.
The Iranian delegation, comprised of physicists and engineers using diplomatic passports, held meetings with sanctioned military institutions. These meetings included discussions with Russian organizations involved in military research, such as Laser Systems, a company under US sanctions known for developing sensitive industrial and military technologies.
The revelation of these meetings is considered the first indication of Moscow’s willingness to cooperate with Tehran in areas that could be related to nuclear weapons development. This visit comes within the context of expanding military cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of drones and arms transfers.
The goal: to verify nuclear designs without detonation. According to U.S. officials and researchers, the purpose of some of these meetings was to acquire technical expertise to assist Iran. This expertise would be used to verify nuclear weapons designs without the need for explosive tests. This could complicate global nuclear nonproliferation efforts. Iran, for its part, insists that its nuclear program is peaceful.
The report noted that the Iranian delegation included researchers from universities known for their ties to Iran’s Defense Innovation and Research Organization (SPND). This organization is subject to long-standing US sanctions due to its activities in nuclear research and development and weapons delivery systems.
This visit, taking place amid heightened geopolitical tensions, is raising concerns among the United States and its allies. These concerns relate to Iran’s accelerated ability to verify its nuclear program.
