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CIA waging psychological warfare against Iran

June 29, 2010 00:00:00


TEHRAN, June 28 (AFP): Iran Monday accused the US Central Intelligence Agency of waging psychological warfare against it through 'fake reports', saying the CIA knows Tehran's nuclear programme has no military aims.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast dismissed CIA director Leon Panetta's comments that Iran could have nuclear weapons ready to use by as early as 2012.
"Such remarks fall within the framework of psychological warfare aimed at creating a negative perception about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities," Mehmanparast told state news agency IRNA.
"The American officials, especially their intelligence apparatus, know that Iran's nuclear programme is in no way a military one but is aimed at peaceful purposes," he said.
Speaking on ABC network's "This Week" programme, Panetta on Sunday said that Iran has manufactured enough low-enriched uranium for two atomic weapons.
He said Tehran would need a year to enrich it fully to produce a bomb, and that it would take "another year to develop the kind of weapon delivery system in order to make that viable."
"There is a continuing debate right now about whether or not they ought to proceed with a bomb. But they clearly are developing their nuclear capability and that raises concerns," Panetta said.
Western powers led by Washington suspect that Iran is masking a weapons drive under what Tehran says is a civilian atomic programme.

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