Thursday, May 15, 2003
Iranian Group Says Tehran Has Bioweapons
From: spliffslips
Military Care Packages War Blog Iraq War Updates
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Iranian Group Says Tehran Has Bioweapons
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By Associated Press
May 15, 2003, 4:42 PM EDT
WASHINGTON -- An Iranian opposition group claimed Thursday that Tehran has developed biological weapons, including some that could infect people with smallpox.
Representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran cited clandestine sources inside the Iranian government but provided no other evidence. They accused Iranian officials of also possessing weapons that could use anthrax, plague and several other poisons and diseases.
"They can use it in a very, very deadly manner that can inflict heavy and widespread human damage," said Alireza Jafarzadeh during a news conference.
Officials with the resistance movement specified labs, companies, military organizations and leaders they said were involved.
American intelligence officials have said Iran probably has a biological weapons program but have described it as probably much more limited in scope. A recent U.S. assessment on smallpox did not list Iran as one of the countries possessing samples of the disease.
U.S. officials have said some of the resistance group's earlier claims have been validated, particularly its allegations on Iranian nuclear programs, but other claims have been disputed.
Iran is part of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention prohibiting such weapons.
The U.S. government has labeled the National Council of Resistance of Iran as a terrorist organization, but allows it to operate freely in Washington. Officials with the group, who say the terrorist label is a U.S. attempt to appease elements within the Iranian government, are trying to have it removed.
A member group, the Mujahedeen Khalq, received support from the government of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It has begun turning in its weapons under a U.S. surrender agreement reached after American forces ordered it to lay down arms or face attack.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Associated Press
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This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iran-opposition-group,0,4922650.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
|
Military Care Packages War Blog Iraq War Updates
--------------------
Iranian Group Says Tehran Has Bioweapons
--------------------
By Associated Press
May 15, 2003, 4:42 PM EDT
WASHINGTON -- An Iranian opposition group claimed Thursday that Tehran has developed biological weapons, including some that could infect people with smallpox.
Representatives of the National Council of Resistance of Iran cited clandestine sources inside the Iranian government but provided no other evidence. They accused Iranian officials of also possessing weapons that could use anthrax, plague and several other poisons and diseases.
"They can use it in a very, very deadly manner that can inflict heavy and widespread human damage," said Alireza Jafarzadeh during a news conference.
Officials with the resistance movement specified labs, companies, military organizations and leaders they said were involved.
American intelligence officials have said Iran probably has a biological weapons program but have described it as probably much more limited in scope. A recent U.S. assessment on smallpox did not list Iran as one of the countries possessing samples of the disease.
U.S. officials have said some of the resistance group's earlier claims have been validated, particularly its allegations on Iranian nuclear programs, but other claims have been disputed.
Iran is part of the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention prohibiting such weapons.
The U.S. government has labeled the National Council of Resistance of Iran as a terrorist organization, but allows it to operate freely in Washington. Officials with the group, who say the terrorist label is a U.S. attempt to appease elements within the Iranian government, are trying to have it removed.
A member group, the Mujahedeen Khalq, received support from the government of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It has begun turning in its weapons under a U.S. surrender agreement reached after American forces ordered it to lay down arms or face attack.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Associated Press
--------------------
This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iran-opposition-group,0,4922650.story
Visit Newsday online at http://www.newsday.com
