Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1992
South Africa reships furnace equipment to Iran supplied to it by Germany in the early 1980s.
—Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 20 August 1992, pp. 7-8.

1992
Iranian physicists from Shiraz University publish designs for an intrinsically safe reactor in the Chinese Nuclear Science Journal.
—M.R. Eskandari and A.A. Harms, "Intrinsic Reactor Safety With Temperature Sensitive Isotope Triggers," Hezi Kexue (Nuclear Science Journal), 1992, vol. 29, pp. 81-87; in Mark Gorwitz, "Foreign Assistance to Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs; Emphasis on Russian Assistance: Analysis and Assessment," Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Unpublished Report, October 1998.

1992
Former Iraqi nuclear scientist Hussain al-Sharistani is seen in Iran. [Note: He was also seen in Iran in 1991. He was previously imprisoned by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for refusing to build nuclear weapons but escaped.]
—"Iranian Sources Reveal: Iraqi Nuclear Scientist Sharistani Alive, Residing in Tehran," Sawt al-Kuwait, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-92-1000, 22 May 1992; in Mark Gorwitz, "Foreign Assistance to Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs; Emphasis on Russian Assistance: Analysis and Assessment," Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Unpublished Report, October 1998.

1992
A US State Department official says of Iran's nuclear program, "I don't think the Iranians are going about it in such a brutish fashion as Saddam Hussein. Their program is much more subtle and long-term." Further reports from officials say, "We have not established that there are any secret nuclear facilities in Iran."
—Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995. Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995.

1992
A Chinese cyclotron is installed at Karaj.
—Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995.

1992
Argentina agrees to sell a "fuel fabrication facility" and a "uranium dioxide conversion plant" to Iran. Argentina rejects Iran's request for a facility to produce heavy water. Argentina cancels the deal under US pressure. Iran protests, saying that the equipment would have been covered by International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Argentina provides Iran "hot cells."
—Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995.

1992
The United States tries to persuade China not to deliver a research reactor at Isfahan. China decides to go ahead with the deal in September 1992 after the United States sells F-16 fighters to Taiwan.
—Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995.

1992
The United States Congress passes the 1992 Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act, which prohibits the export of nuclear equipment and technology as well as exports to Iran of dual use technology and US government commercial arms sales.
—"North Africa and Middle East/Iran," p. 170, <http://www.ceip.org>, accessed on 13 March 2002.

1992
Iran reportedly signs a secret deal with Kazakhstan to buy four nuclear warheads, but the CIA stops the deal. In an unsuccessful attempt, the Iranians approach the Ulba Metallurgical Plant within the Ust-Kamenogorsk production complex in Kazakhstan in order to purchase beryllium and enriched uranium. The plant makes reactor fuel and metal components for the defense industry and has 600kg of surplus highly enriched uranium. There are conflicting reports as to why the Iranians wanted to purchase the uranium. Reports indicate that the Iranians sought to use the uranium as reactor fuel or for weapons. According to Ergali Bayadilov, Director General of the Kazak Atomic Energy Agency, Iran wanted to purchase safeguarded low-enriched uranium (LEU) to fuel the soon-to-be supplied Russian VVER-1000 [1000MW light-water] reactor. [Note: See 9 July 1995.]
—--"North Africa and Middle East/Iran," p. 170, <http://www.ceip.org/>, accessed on 13 March 2002; Mark Hibbs, "Kazakhs Say Iran Sought LEU For VVER, Not 'Sapphire' HEU," Nuclear Fuel, 17 July 1995, pp. 11-12; David Albright, "An Iranian Bomb?," The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, January 1995, <http://www.bullatomsci.org/issues/1995/ja95/ja95.albright.html>; Douglas Davis, "Report on Foreign Assistance to Nuclear Program," The Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem), 8 September 1995, in FBIS Document FTS19950908000168, 8 September 1995.

1992
Iran acquires nuclear weapons "ready for immediate use" from CIS countries, according to the German weekly Focus. The weapons are reportedly "an atom bomb which can be dropped from an airplane and a launcher for missiles with nuclear warheads." [Note: This probably refers to reports that Iran bought nuclear warheads from Kazakhstan. See 1992 entry above.]
—"Iran Reportedly Acquires Nuclear Arms from CIS," Central Eurasia, 28 January 1993, p. 6.

1992
The Israeli Defense Forces report that Iran might be able to produce a nuclear bomb within a decade.
—Reuven Pedatzur, "Rules of the Game," Haaretz (Jerusalem) 5 December 1996; in "Recent Statements Seen leading to Overt Nuclear Deterrence," in FBIS Document FTS19961202000534, 5 December 1996.

1992
Iran's nuclear program has an annual research budget of $800 million, and has major facilities at Tehran University, Moallem Kalayeh, and Isfahan. Iran's nuclear research program has received technical assistance from North Korea, India, and China. Two hundred technicians and more than 50 nuclear scientists from the former Soviet Union have signed agreements with Iran.
—"Iranian Diplomats On Nuclear Warhead Purchases," Proliferation Issues, 5 March 1993, pp. 14-16; Paul Beaver Flash Points Update Jane's Defense Weekly, 3 April 1993, pp 20-21.

1992
Iran and Russia sign an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Iran on the border with Turkmenistan by the Caspian Sea. The United States and International Atomic Energy Agency protest the decision. According to the leading Russian newspapers, the main reason for US objections is that Western countries want to force Russia out of the nuclear market. However, the project is important for Russia because of its deteriorating economic situation and severe need for hard currency.
—Aleksandr Bushev "Atomic Mirage At The Caravan Route: Will Turkmenistan Get Involved In The Russia's Plans To Construct a Nuclear Power Plant In Iran?" Komsomolskaya Pravda, 28 July 1993, p. 2.

1992
Iran and Russia sign two agreements, "On Building a Nuclear Plant" and "On Cooperation in the Area of Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy." The Iranians want the Russians to build a nuclear power plant in northern Iran, but the geological data show the area was susceptible to dangerously high seismic activity, and it is decided to continue the work started years previously at the Bushehr site.
—Viktor Mikhaylov, "Minatom and International Cooperation," Yadernyy Kontrol (Moscow), Volume 44, Number 2, March-April 1999, pp. 62-66.

1992
The International Atomic Energy Agency Department of Safeguards has twice inspected nuclear facilities that were identified in news media and intelligence reports as sites where nuclear weapons are being developed. The IAEA finds no evidence of illegal nuclear activity either time. During a visit to an Iranian nuclear facility cited as having a fissile material production pilot program, IAEA inspectors find no evidence of undeclared activities. According to diplomatic sources, the United States provides the IAEA with limited intelligence information on Iran's alleged covert nuclear activities. The United States says later that the IAEA was unable to detect the alleged activities because it did not have access to the same detailed, highly classified, intelligence information as the United States. However, not all US governmental officials agree on the validity of the US data.
—Mark Hibbs. "Iran Balking At Approval Of IAEA Environmental Monitoring." NuclearFuel, 23 October 1996, pp. 2-3.

1992 - 1993
The International Atomic Energy Agency requests and Iran grants visits in 1992 and 1993 and finds the visited sites were consistent with peaceful uses. These visits, however, are pronounced inconclusive because of the size of these sites and because Iran does not allow the inspectors to perform the full range inspection methods including environmental monitoring.
—David Albright, "An Iranian Bomb?," The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Washington, DC) January 1995, <http://www.bullatomsci.org>, accessed 7 July 2002.

1992
Iran declares its Isfahan site to the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya," A Simon Wiesenthal Center Special Report from Middle East Defense News (Middle East Defense News), August 1992, p. 43.

1992
Brazilian Brigadier General Hugo Piva may be working in Iran, and US reports say Iran may receive nuclear weapons technology from Brazil.
—Ben Sanders and John Simpson, "Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation," Country Files, University of Southampton, 1991.

1992
China and Iran sign an agreement regarding the supply of two 300MW reactors, according to Chinese Ambassador to Iran Hua Liming in an interview years later. The deal had previously been dropped because China was concerned about Iran's ability to finance the project, but China decides to go ahead with the arrangement. Other sources suggest it is questionable whether the transaction will actually take place, because of disagreements over the site where the reactors will be constructed and the handling of spent fuel, as well as financial and technical difficulties.
—David Albright "An Iranian Bomb?," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 1995-8/95, pp. 21-26; "Chinese Diplomat Discusses Nuclear Assistance To Iran," Resalat (Teheran), 12 September 1995; in FBIS-TAC-95-005; Con Coughlin, "Chinese Sell Iran Vital Link To Build Bomb," Sunday Telegraph, 24 September 1995.

1992
France denies reports that it will supply Iran with highly enriched uranium pursuant to a possible secret addendum to the Eurodif deal. [Note: See 25 October 1991 and 29 December 1991].
—"An Iranian Nuclear Chronology, 1987-1982," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1992
CIA Director Robert Gates testifies that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and could procure one by 2000 if the West does not intervene.
—Steve Coll, U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran; China, Argentina, Agreed to Cancel Technology Transfers, The Washington Post, 17 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

January 1992
Iran asks the French government to deliver enriched uranium as specified in a 1974 contract between the Shah and a French consortium to build a uranium enrichment plant. However, under heavy US pressure, France decides not to sell nuclear technology to Iran. [Note: See 1974 and 1979.]
—Matthew Fraser, "France Makes Up with Iran in Secret; Even Though Pact May Give Nukes to Fundamentalists," The Gazette (Montreal), 6 January 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

January 1992
Reports say Iran has received nuclear weapons technology from Brazil and India.
—Amir Tahiri, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), 31 December 1991, p. 1; in Proliferation Issues, 31 January 1992, pp. 67-68.

January 1992
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Husayn Haqani denies reports of an Iranian-Pakistani cooperation agreement on nuclear technology. He says Pakistan would not export nuclear technology. [Note: See 1991 (2), May 1991 (2), November 1991 for more on cooperation between Iran and Pakistan.]
—Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran First Program Network (Tehran), 12 January 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 31 January 1992, p. 31.

January 1992
Hamian Vahdati, thought to be heading Iran's nuclear program, says that no country can be taken seriously without a nuclear research program, and that Iran wants to have the technology and knowledge to make nuclear weapons in case it needs them. Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Vaezi asserts that Iran opposes nuclear weapons buildup.
—Amir Taheri, Die Welt (Bonn), 27 January 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, p. 9; Hugh Carnegy, Financial Times, 29 January 1992, p. 4.

January 1992
The Tajikistan parliament acknowledges that negotiations are underway with Iranian representatives for the sale of enriched uranium and uranium production technology. Joint uranium production and enrichment efforts between Tajikistan and Iran are being considered.
—David Albright and Mark Hibbs, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, March 1992, pp. 9-11; Frankfurter Rundschau, 3 January 1992.

January 1992
Iran's Mojahedin-e Khalq opposition group reports that Iran requested nuclear warheads and uranium enrichment technology in a recent meeting with Chinese officials. [Note: The Mohajedin-e Khlaq is known to make exaggerated claims about the Iranian government and its nuclear program.]
—Brian Dickinson, Washington Times, 16 January 1992, p. G4.

January 1992
Syria and Iran sign a "nuclear pact," under which Iran agrees to provide Syria with a "nuclear umbrella" in the case of an Israeli attack.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria, and Libya," A Simon Wiesenthal Center Special Report from Middle East Defense News, August 1992, p. 52.

January 1992
The Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies reports that Kazakhstan planned to sell nuclear ballistic missiles to Iran. Reports that President Nursultan Nazabayev had traveled twice to Iran are also dismissed.
—Vladimir Desytov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 31 January 1992, p. 3; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, p. 12.

January 1992
Reports say Iran and North Korea have been making secret weapons deals and have been attempting to expand nuclear research cooperation programs. Iran has already received nuclear weapons technology from North Korea.
—Amir Tahiri, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), 31 December 1991, p. 1; in Proliferation Issues, 31 January 1992, pp. 67-68; Brian Dickinson, Washington Times, 16 January 1992, p. G4.

January-September 1992
Despite tough new export controls, Germany approves about 80% of applications for licenses--approximately 200 licenses--to export to Iran dual-use technology included on the German "C list" of controlled items.
—Steve Coll, "German Exports Helping Iran Rebuild, Rearm; Bonn Approves 80% of Requests To Sell Tehran High-Tech Goods," Washington Post , 6 December 1992, p. A33.

January-February 1992
Soviet scientists are offered up to $20,000 per month to work on Iran's nuclear program and are reported to be in Iran as of February 1992. Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, however, rejects speculations that his country has been trying to hire the scientists. One report claims that Iran has hired more than 50 former Soviet nuclear scientists. Alireza Jafarzadeh of the Mojahedin says "dozens" of nuclear scientists from the former Soviet Union are already at five Iranian nuclear facilities: Gorgan, Moallem [Kalayeh], Isfahan, Karaj, and Darkhovin.
—Gerald R. Seib and John Fialka, "Scientists of Former Soviet Union Find the U.S. Slow in Putting out the Welcome Mat for Them," The Wall Street Journal, 3 February 1992, p. A14; Douglas Frantz and Murray Waas, "U.S. to OK High-Tech Sales to Iran and Syria," The Los Angeles Times, 13 February 1992, p. A1; Anatoly Karpychev, Pravda (Moscow), 21 January 1992, p. 4; in Proliferation Issues, 14 February 1992, p. 27-29; Norman Kempster, "Former Soviet Nuclear Lab Seeks U.S. Aid," The Los Angeles Times, 15 February 1992, p. A1.

17 January 1992
The Washington Times reports that China is supplying a reactor and an electromagnetic isotope separator to Iran. Syria is trying to buy a Chinese nuclear reactor.
—Rowan Scarborough And Bill Gertz "Arms-Happy Gulf Resists New Curbs" The Washington Times, 17 January 1992, pp. A1, A10.

22 January 1992
US Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs Bernard Aronson, during a meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Guido di Tella, expresses concern over the planned sale of nuclear material to Iran by Argentina's Investigaciones Aplicadas (INVAP). Initially, the Argentine government said that the sale could go through if Iran signed a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency within 40 days. [Note: See 26 January 1992 for Argentina's decision to suspend the sale.]
—Jose Maria Monzon, "The INVAP, Applied Research Institute, Case," Noticias Argentinas (Beunos Aires) 7 February 1992; in FBIS Document JPRS-TND-92-004, 21 February 1992, pp. 6-7.

26 January 1992
Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister announces the suspension of an $18 million contract between Iran and Argentina's Investigaciones Aplicadas (INVAP), which would provide Iran with nuclear technologies.
—"An Iranian Nuclear Chronology, 1987-1982," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

31 January 1993
At a Tehran news conference, Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani denies Western reports that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. President Rafsanjani declares that Iran "cannot afford to purchase [and] will never try to purchase" nuclear bombs.
—Caryle Murphy, "Iranian Sees No Breakthrough On U.S. Ties," The Washington Post, 1 February 1993, pp. A12, A15.

31 January 1992
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat of London reports that Iran and France have signed a secret agreement on nuclear cooperation. Under the agreement, France will supply Iran with enriched uranium. The United States is concerned by the deal, and is expected to request a full explanation of the secret agreement. During the Shah's rule, Iran signed a nuclear agreement with France that Iran later invoked in requests for French enriched uranium. France hesitated to comply due to the possible military applications of the enriched uranium. Contract disputes between the two states also led to a 12-year financial dispute wherein Iran demanded that France repay a $1 billion loan.
—Iran, France Said To Sign Secret Nuclear Accord Proliferation Issues, 31 January 1992, pp. 67-68; Amir Tahiri Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), 31 December 1991, p.1.

31 January 1992
The Iranian deputy Foreign Minister for Euroamerican Affairs rejects claims that Iran had purchased nuclear weapons from Kazakhstan.
—Vladimir Desytov, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 31 January 1992, p. 3; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, p. 12.

February 1992
At the invitation of Reza Amrollahi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency visits six locations in Iran in seven days, including Bushehr, the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, the Amirabad Nuclear Research Center in Tehran, the Karaj Agricultural and Medical Research Center, Saghand, and Moallem Kalayeh. Three of the facilities have never been inspected before. IAEA Deputy Director Jon Jennekens says, "We visited without any restriction everything we had asked to see. All nuclear activities in Iran are solely for peaceful purposes." One team member, however, calls Jennekens' report an "impudent and unfounded whitewash." It is alleged that the Iranians took the team to a decoy site, a vacation spot known as Moallem Kalayeh, rather than a town by the same name said to house uranium enrichment facilities. In response to a charge that the IAEA had inspected a fake facility and not the real Moallem Kalayeh facility, David Kyd, spokesman for the IAEA, says, "None of our member states ever suggested that we were taken to a wrong location." An official with the IAEA says the calutron inspected did not have the direct capability to enrich uranium.
—Mark D. Skootsky, "U.S. Nuclear Policy Toward Iran," 1 June 1995; Neel Patri, Nucleonics Week, 28 November 1991, p. 8; Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 21 November 1991, pp. 2-3; George J. Church, Time, 16 December 1991, pp. 42, 47-48; Michael Z. Wise, "Atomic Team Reports On Iran Probe," Washington Post, 15 February 1992, pp. A29, A30; Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 40; Paul Lewis, "Pakistan Tells of Its A-Bomb Capacity," The New York Times, 8 February 1992, p. A5; International Herald Tribune, [pub. not in L-N] 14 February 1992, p. 5; Michael Z. Wise, "Atomic Team Reports On Iran Probe," Washington Post, 15 February 1992, pp. A29, A30; IRNA (Tehran), 26 February 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 13 March 1992, p. 19; Arms Control Today, March 1992, p. 28; Jim Mann, "Iran Determined to Get A-Bomb, U.S. Believes; Arms: Officials Say Tehran is Using Chinese Technology in a Long-Term Effort to Develop Weapons," The Los Angeles Times, 17 March 1992, p. A1.

February 1992
CIA Director Robert Gates testifies before Congress that Iran is "building up its special weapons capability as part of a massive...effort to develop its military and defense capability."
—New York Times, 30 November 1992, pp. A1 and A6; in Anthony H. Cordesman, "Threats and Non-Threats From Iran," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 26 January 1995.

February 1992
The Economist reports that Iran has plans to obtain "a few" power reactors through legitimate channels from China and India.
—"Dimona Et Al" The Economist, 14 March 1992, p. 46.

February 1992
The Russian Federation's permanent representative to the United Nations rejects reports that a former Soviet Republic, a Muslim state, sold three tactical nuclear weapons to Iran. Iran reportedly paid between $130 to $150 million dollars for the bombs in question. Russian President Boris Yeltsin also denies the reports, saying that all nuclear weapons of the former Soviet Union are under control. [Note: This probably refers to reports that Iran bought nuclear weapons from Kazakhstan.]
—Radio Rossii Network (Moscow), 24 January 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 14 February 1992, p. 22; Jeff Kamen, Defense News, 24 January 1992, pp. 47-48; Tony Walker, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 March 1992, p. 23.

February 1992
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif denies rumors that Pakistan is helping Iran rebuild and upgrade a research reactor. [Note: See 2 November 1991.] Pakistan refuses Iranian offers to purchase nuclear weapons technology in exchange for writing off Pakistani debt.
—Nuclear Engineering International, February 1992, p. 7; Rauf Siddiqi, Nucleonics Week, 20 February 1992, pp. 15-16. Nuclear Engineering International, February 1992, p. 7; Rauf Siddiqi, Nucleonics Week, 20 February 1992, pp. 15-16.

February 1992
In discussions with the President of Iran, German Economic Minister Juergen Moellemann reiterates that his country will not approve delivery of parts for the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Several German firms that formerly dealt with Iraq and aided its nuclear program are now in contact with Iran.
—Wolfgang Hoffman, Die Zeit (Hamburg) 21 February 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, p. 33; Scheherazde Daneshkhu, "Iran presses on with campaign to rebuild its military might," The Financial Times, 6 February 1992, p. 4; Anton La Guardia, "Israel turns spotlight on Iranian arms," Daily Telegraph (London), 3 February 1992, p. 19.

February 1992
The Belgian firm Ion Beam Applications signs a contract to sell a cyclotron to Iran. Iran says that the cyclotron will be used for medical purposes, although it may have other applications. IBA already has acquired an export permit. [Note: See 1991 and 11 May 1991 entries.]
—R.H., Het Belang Van Limburg (Hasselt), 12 February 1992, pp. 1, 4; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, pp. 39-40.

February 1992
Iran says that it is ready to sign an agreement renouncing nuclear weapons development.
—Wolfgang Hoffman, Die Zeit (Hamburg), 21 February 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 3 March 1992, p. 33.

February 1992
The Washington, DC-based Defense and Foreign Affairs Strategic Policy newsletter reports Iran is within two months of reassembling nuclear warheads acquired from the former Soviet Union. Iran has hired nuclear scientists from Kazakhstan.
—Harvey Morris, "Scare Over Nuclear Arms Leaks Focuses On Iran," The Independent, 25 February 1992.

3 February 1992
Argentine Foreign Minister Guido di Tella denies that the Argentine government cancelled the export of all nuclear materials to Iran at the request of the United States [Note: See 22 and 26 January 1992 for more on this topic.]
—"Argentine Official Denies Cancellation of Nuclear Material Export to Iran," The Xinhua General Overseas News Service, 3 February 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

5 February 1992
The Associated Press reports that, according to US and Iranian sources, Iran is procuring nuclear weapons technology from the former Soviet republics and China. [Note: See 1985-1990 entry.] According to the Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran, the Islamic Republic entered into a deal to buy two 450MW nuclear reactors from the former Soviet Union. [Note: This may refer to two 440MW reactors, rather than 450MW.] In addition, the group reports that experts from Turkmenistan completed a geological survey to determine whether the two reactors could be installed northeast of Gorgan, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. Iran is still trying to purchase a reactor from China, and has purchased from China calutron equipment and giant magnets used to make weapons grade plutonium, according to the Mojahedin. The group also states that Iran has recruited many highly paid nuclear experts from the former Soviet republics and that Iranian President Rafsanjani ordered Iranian nuclear experts to Europe to work at nuclear labor and technologies companies in order to procure nuclear secrets. [Note: The Mohajedin-e Khlaq is known to make exaggerated claims about the Iranian government and its nuclear program.]
—Ruth Sinai, "Iran Turning Increasingly to the Former Soviet Republics and to China for Help in Getting Nuclear Weapons Technology, U.S. Official and Iranian Sources Said Wednesday," The Associated Press, 5 February 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

7 February 1992
Argentine President Carlos Menem blocks the shipment of dual-use technology from Argentina's Investigaciones Aplicadas (INVAP) to Iran, despite the earlier arrival of Argentine technicians in Iran in connection with the deal. The deal, which has been valued at $18 million, involves nuclear reactor material, including tubing and machine tools. Another source indicates that the blocked shipment includes equipment for two contracts between INVAP and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: $9.7 million worth of equipment for a uranium conversion and purification pilot plant and $14.9 million worth of equipment for a fuel fabrication pilot plant. INVAP also has a contract to conduct $5.6 million of support work for the operation of the Tehran Nuclear Research Center's research reactor with a 20% core.
—"INVAP Fears Bankruptcy After Shipment is Halted," Nuclear Engineering International, June 1992, p. 12.

13 February 1992
The Los Angeles Times reports that the United States is trying to implement an export policy preventing US exports of dual-use technology to Iran. Iran already has purchased $60 million of high-tech equipment, including powerful computers that may have nuclear applications.
—Douglas Frantz and Murray Waas, "U.S. to OK High-Tech Sales to Iran and Syria," The Los Angeles Times, 13 February 1992, p. A1.

15 February 1992
The Washington Post reports that many Iranian scientists, including Ahmad Sofudehnia, have returned from exile or have been released from jail to work on developing Iran's nuclear programs.
—Michael Z. Wise, "Atomic Team Reports On Iran Probe," Washington Post, 15 February 1992, pp. A29, A30.

23 February 1992
Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, inaugurates Iran's first graduate degree in nuclear engineering. Over 40 foreign nuclear experts will assist in teaching the post-graduate courses. However, the nationality of the foreigners is unclear. Iran rejects western allegations that the program proves that the Islamic Republic is seeking nuclear weapons.
—"Iran to Train Own Nuclear Experts," The Xinhua News Agency, 23 February 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

24 February 1992
NBC-TV reports that US intelligence reports say that Iran and Pakistan have been cooperating in making a nuclear bomb for the last two years.
—Press Trust of India, 24 February 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

26 February 1992
Reza Amrollahi, the president of Iran Atomic Energy Organization, says at an International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting that Iran will complete the nuclear reactors of Bushehr.
—"An Iranian Nuclear Chronology, 1987-1982," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

March 1992
US Ambassador to China, J. Stapelton Roy, visits a Chinese nuclear reactor outside Beijing and inspects a model of the reactor destined for Iran. On the occasion, US diplomats pressure Chinese officials to cancel the transfer.
—Steve Coll, U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran; China, Argentina, Agreed to Cancel Technology Transfers, The Washington Post, 17 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

March 1992
Despite US pressure, India resumes its deal to sell a 10MW nuclear research reactor to Iran. [Note: See 22 November 1992.] The director of the Indian Nuclear Committee, Mr. Ingra, says that his country has the right to export nuclear reactors to Iran.
—"Nuclear Facilities," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran First Program Network (Tehran), 25 March 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 8 April 1992, p. 1.

March 1992
A US Republican task force reports that Iran has possessed all of the necessary components to build a nuclear bomb since December 1991.
—Tony Walker, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 March 1992, p. 23.

March 1992
Paul Muenstermann, vice president of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), says that Iran received two of three nuclear warheads and medium-range nuclear delivery systems that are missing from Kazakhstan. Iranian officials and the commander of the CIS Joint Armed Forces reject these claims. Russian General Victor Samoilov, however, who handles disarmament issues for the CIS general staff, admits that three nuclear warheads were missing from Kazakhstan. Also, Iran allegedly purchased four 152mm nuclear shells from the former Soviet Union, which were allegedly stolen and sold by former Soviet Army officers. The Iranian Foreign Ministry denies these allegations. Lt. General Sergey Zalentsov, senior commander of the United Armed Forces of the CIS and deputy-in-charge of all CIS nuclear arms, also rejects the reports. Iran reportedly received the warheads from Kazakhstan through Bulgaria. However, Iran did not receive the necessary launch codes or missiles capable of carrying the warheads. [Note: See 16 March 1992 entry for the response from Russian and Kazakh officials.]
—"Iran Buys Bomb," 16 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 52; Nickolay Kalintsev, ITAR-TASS, 16 March 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 3 April 1992, p. 17; The Press Democrat, 17 March 1992, p. A4; Sofia Khorizont Radio Network, 17 March 1992; in Proliferation Issues, 16 March 1992, p. 13.

March 1992
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reports that Iran has imported unsafeguarded enriched uranium from an unknown country and calutron magnet cores from West Germany.
—David Albright and Mark Hibbs, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, March 1992, pp. 9-11.

2 March 1992
Argentine President Carlos Menem cancels Investigaciones Aplicadas' (INVAP) proposed shipment of machine tools worth $18 million to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran due to lack of adequate safeguards. [Note: See entry on the blocking of the deal on 7 February 1992. See 17 November 1992 for more on this topic.]
—Richard Kessler, "General Atomics, INVAP Explore Research Reactor, Nuclear Ties," Nucleonics Week, 2 April 1992, p. 15.

15 March 1992
The Houston Chronicle reports that Iran has ample enriched uranium to construct a nuclear warhead. The Chronicle reports that Iran is also recalling it Silkworm missiles, currently positioned in the Persian Gulf, which could be armed with a nuclear warhead in a single day.
—"Intelligence Report," The Houston Chronicle, 15 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

16 March 1992
Russian and Kazakh officials deny a report in the German magazine Stern that Iran acquired two nuclear devices and their delivery systems from Kazakhstan. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Ivan Krylnik says, "All nuclear weapons are under the strictest centralized control and selling them or stealing them is impossible." The spokesman for Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev says, "Our president has more than once emphasized that our nuclear weapons are under safe control" and that Kazakhstan is "living up to it obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons." However, the US magazine US News and World Report quotes an unidentified high-ranking Russian officer as substantiating a US intelligence report that three short-range nuclear weapons have disappeared from an arsenal in Kazakhstan. The US magazine reports the weapons have been sold to Iran. [Note: See March 1992 entry for comments by the German intelligence service on the matter. See 17 March 1992 entry for the denial of a CIS general.]
—"Russia, Kazakhstan Deny Iran Has Obtained Soviet Nuclear Warheads," The Associated Press, 16 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

17 March 1992
CIS armed forces command general, Sergei Zelentsov, denies reports that a Kazakh scientist sold tactical nuclear weapons Iran. Zelentsov says, "I can guarantee that no scientist had access to these weapons." He says, "No unauthorized person can gain access to nuclear weapons, and no such person could gain access in the future."
—"No Arms to Iran," The Independent (London), 17 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Fred Hiatt, "Russians Contest Ukraine's Suspension of Tactical Nuclear Arms Transfer," The Washington Post, 18 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

30 March 1992
Owner of Ray Amiri Computer Consultants, Reza (Ray) Amiri, and the firm's operations manager, Mohammad (Don) Danesh, plead guilty for illegally shipping nuclear weapons and missile guidance systems components to Iran. Amiri and Danesh are convicted on 19 counts, including falsifying customs declarations and exporting controlled commodities such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, pulse generators, and a universal programming system to the Ministry of Defense in Tehran. [Note: See 29 August 1991 for their arrest.]
—Lynn Smith, "Pair Plead Guilty To Illegally Exporting Equipment to Iran," Los Angeles Times (Orange County Edition), 31 March 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

April 1992
The European of London reports that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service has said that Iran definitely received two warheads stolen from Semipalatinsk. The report says that the organization selling the weapons had ties to Kazakhstan President Nursaltan Nazarbayev.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 53; Roger Fallgot and Ian Mather, The European, 30 April-3 May 1992, pp. 1-2.

April 1992
Argentina suspends contracts for nuclear projects in Iran.
—Warren H. Donnelly and Zachary S. Davis, "Iran's Nuclear Activities and the Congressional Response," CRS Issue Brief, Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, 20 May 1992.

11 April 1992
Russia issues Decree No. 388, which provides the basis for a Russian export control structure. A potential problem in the current export control structure is that Georgii Khizha, who heads the Export Control Commission, also heads the Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation, which is assigned to promote the export of Russian defense items. As a result of such bureaucratic inconsistencies, Russia decided to sell two nuclear plants to Iran.
—William C. Potter, "Nuclear Exports From the Former Soviet Union: What's New, What's True," Arms Control Today, 1-2/93, pp. 3-10.

15 April 1992
Israel's Chief of General Staff, Major General Amnon Shahak, says Iran's desire to procure nuclear weapons is a "worrisome trend" that should be watched carefully by Israel, the Arab countries, and the international community.
—Alon Pinkas, "Shahak: Don't Ignore Iranian Nuclear Efforts," The Jerusalem Post, 16 April 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

May 1992
The International Atomic Energy Agency says it has no information on Iran acquiring nuclear warheads. The European, a weekly newspaper, reports that "Iran has obtained at least two nuclear warheads out of a batch officially listed as "missing from the newly independent republic of Kazakhstan..." The European also reports that a top secret report from Russian intelligence was sent to the CIA outlining Iran's procurement of Kazakhstan's missing nuclear warheads.
—"IAEA Has No Information on Nuclear Warheads in Iran," Moneyclips, 6 May 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

May 1992
Iranian diplomats say Iran could buy nuclear reactors from anywhere and that Iran's electricity industry needs "a large number" of them. In addition, they could pay cash for them. However, Iranian diplomats say India was not approached for a deal.
—"India Was Not Approached For Nuclear Power Says Iran," Moneyclips, 22 May 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

2 May 1992
Russian television reports that Russian intelligence has told the CIA that two nuclear warheads from Semipalatisk, Khazakhstan, were sold to Iran and another unknown Middle East country with the permission of Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev. The warheads are of a capacity ranging from 2 to 5 kilotons. [Note: See 27 May 1992 entry for NATO statement rebutting this report.]
—Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

4 May 1992
The Chairman of the Kazakh KGB denies reports that Kazakhstan sold two nuclear warheads to Iran. The KGB Chairman dismisses reports of a sale as a "disinformation plot aimed at positioning relations between Kazakhstan and Russia" and "the moderate and realistic policies" of Kazakhstan.
—"Kazakh KGB Denies Sale of Nuclear Warheads to Iran," The British Broadcasting Corporation, 5 May 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13 May 1992
The Associated Press publishes a list of companies that sold advanced technology to Iran; the companies are also identified as having supplied equipment to Iraq for its nuclear and missile program. The companies are Siemens Corporation (a subsidiary of Siemens AG of Germany), $21 million in computers, communication equipment, electronic assemblies, integrated circuits, and other items; Honeywell Inc., $10 million for computers in use at refineries, replacement parts for electronic assemblies, and technical models; Honeywell Bull Inc. (joint venture of Groupe Bull of France and NEC Corp. of Japan), $5.2 in computers, some for a national census project, and other to be sold by distributors; Finnigan Mat, $684,062 in computers, some for research on biological compounds, and others for oil refineries; Rockwell International Corporation, $540,767 in technical models, transmission equipment, and helicopter equipment; Sackman Associates, $423,200 in computers for use in hospital X-Ray equipment; Carl Zeiss Inc. (US subsidiary of German company), $85,000 for computers to measure and evaluate photographic data; Tektronix Inc. $63,835 in computer equipment; Unysis Corporation, $13,900 in computers to be used by Swissair in Tehran; Data General Corporation, $10,000 for computers used in demonstration at trade fairs in Iran; Wild Magnavox (joint venture between Magnavox and Wild of Switzerland), [no dollar value] for repairs if defective equipments used for mapping and surveying.
—Associated Press, 13 May 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia edu>.

22 May 1992
The spokesman at the Iranian embassy in India denies that Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati discussed a 10MW reactor on his recent trip to India. An Indian official says India and Iran had "preliminary discussions" last year about the reactor. The Iranian official also says, "Iran has enough money to buy a nuclear reactor from anywhere in the world. We need a large number of reactors for our power industry and we have the money to buy them."
—Reuters, 22 May 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>; accessed 25 March 2002.

27 May 1992
NATO officials say all of the more than 17,000 tactical nuclear weapons of the former Soviet Union have been returned to Russia. [Note: This rebuts a 2 May 1992 report that Kazakhstan sold Iran two nuclear weapons.]
—The Daily Telegraph, 2 May 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

June 1992
Kazakh deputy Ozhas Suleymanov says the three missing nuclear weapons said to have been transferred to Iran have been found at Semipalatinsk.
—Roger Fallgot and Ian Mather, The European, 20 April-3 May 1992, pp. 1-2; Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 52.

June 1992
An Israeli newspaper reports that Iran is receiving nuclear weapons development assistance from nine western firms.
—Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 11 June 1992, p. 5; in Proliferation Issues, 19 June 1992, p. 17.

June 1992
Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, criticizes Israel's Air Force commander for saying that Israel may take military action against Iran's nuclear installations.
—International Atomic Energy Agency Information Circular, 14 July 1992.

8 June 1992
Middle East Defense News reports that a geological survey is underway at Gorgan with assistance from Turkmenistan as possible site for 450MW power reactor which Iran is negotiating to purchase from the former Soviet Union. According to Western intelligence, Gorgan is not a civilian site and was not visited by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1992 or declared to the IAEA. Western intelligence also reports that nuclear scientists from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan are employed at Gorgan with salaries upward of $20,000 a month. Again according to Western intelligence reports, the Gorgan site is not funded by the Central Bank of Iran but rather Great Nuclear Plan. The reports also say that Iran allotted $4.2 billion for nuclear weapons development over the next three years.
—"Nuclear Facilities," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

8 June 1992
Middle East Defense News reports that intelligence sources believe the Isfahan site is meant to contain the facilities for the entire uranium fuel cycle.
—"Nuclear Facilities," Middle East Defense News, 8 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 June 1992
The Sunday Times of London reports the Iran is offering Russian émigrés in Israel thousands of dollars a month and luxury housing to continue nuclear research programs in Iran.
—"Iran Lures Jobless Russian Scientists," Moneyclips, 13 July 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

19 June 1992
Proliferation Issues reports that the head of the Israeli Defense Forces Intelligence Branch, Major General Uri Saqi, warns that Iran is within 10 years of developing nuclear weapons capability. At least nine Western firms and dozens of nuclear scientists are involved in developing the Iranian atomic program. A senior Israeli government source said that Israel would not sit passively by while Iran develops its nuclear program but would use all options to stop it.
—"Western Firms' Links With Iran, Libya Cited," Proliferation Issues, 19 June 1992, p. 17.

21 June 1992
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati denies accusations that Iran is trying to indigenously produce a nuclear weapon before the close the 20th century. Velayati also denies reports that Iran possesses the necessary equipment needed to produce nuclear weapons. The Iranian Foreign Minister adds that all Iranian nuclear facilities are open the International Atomic Energy Agency inspections.
—"Iranian Foreign Minister Says Iran Incapable of Producing Nuclear Bombs," The British Broadcasting Corporation, 22 June 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13 July 1992
Iranian President Khamenei says allegations that Iran is seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction are the result of "American and Zionist loudspeakers....They know it is a lie....You are mistaken if you think that the Islamic Republic's strength lies in the obtaining or domestic manufacture of an atomic bomb.....The power of faith will foil all the conspiracies and ploys of the enemy."
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Iran and Nuclear Weapons: A Working Draft," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000.

July 1992
An IAEA team visits several Iranian nuclear sites and reported having seen nothing to suggest Iran is developing nuclear energy for non-peaceful uses. Several countries noted that they were not convinced the IAEA visit was absolutely conclusive.
—Harvey Morris "Scare Over Nuclear Arms Leaks Focuses On Iran" The Independent, 25 February 1992.

30 July 1992
The China Daily newspaper reports Iran, Bangladesh, and Egypt are exploring deals to purchase 300MW reactors from China.
—Kathy Wilhelm, "China May Sell Nuclear Reactors to Bangladesh, Egypt and Iran," The Associated Press, 30 July 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

31 July 1992
The German government reaffirms that it will refuse to grant Siemens an export license to complete the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran. The announcement came from the Economics Ministry in response to the news that Iran would file a lawsuit against Siemens with the International Chambers of Commerce in Paris.
—"German Government Blocks Completion Of Nuclear," Compuserve-Executive News Service, 3 August 1992 .

31 July 1992
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati says that Iran has no interest in developing nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, and continues to say that he rejects any claim that Iran is developing any weapons of mass destruction. He adds that Iran has a negative position toward chemical and biological weapons. He also says that at a time when the former Soviet Union is asking the West for funds to dispose of their arsenals, he says it would not be an advisable policy to seek the acquisition of these weapons.
—Reuters, 31 July 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

August 1992
Nucleonics Week reports that German intelligence is investigating the possibility that earlier this year, South Africa reshipped furnace equipment to Iran supplied to it by Germany in the early 1980s.
—Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 20 August 1992, pp. 7-8.

2 August 1992
The managing director of the German company Siemens, Von Pirer, and the head of Qeshm Free Zone Trade Authority, Ali Shams Ardakani, sign a deal to build a gas-fired power station in the free zone of Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Persian Gulf.
—"Siemens to Build Power Plant at Queshm, Iran," The Xinhua News Agency, 2 August 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

3 August 1992
Seimens of Germany formally notifies Iran that the Bushehr deal was cancelled indefinitely.
—"Iran Threatens Siemens," Middle East Defense News, 17 August 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

4 August 1992
The deputy of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran chastises the German government for not fulfilling its commitment to complete the Bushehr nuclear power plant. He also adds that despite the concerns from some countries, Bushehr has no military application. The deputy says, "We have begun discussions with China about the establishment of new power stations." German Economics Affairs Minister Juergen Moellemann says no German firm, including Siemens AG, will be allowed to complete the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
—"Atomic Energy Official On Bushehr Nuclear Power Station; Negotiations With China," The British Broadcasting Corporation, 4 August 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; "Minister Affirms Refusal" Proliferation Issues, 12 August 1992, p. 26.

19 August 1992
The Financial Times reports that Iran threatened to sue the German electronics company Siemens AG for refusing to complete construction of nuclear power plant begun in 1975 at Bushehr.
—"China Nuclear-Plant Announced," Fact on File World News Digest, 17 September 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

24 August 1992
According to Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iran and the Russian Federation sign a 15-year bilateral nuclear agreement in Tehran, which covers increased cooperation in nuclear safety; radioisotope production and use in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and industry; construction and operation of nuclear power plants; research and development; and training. Amrollahi says this general agreement calls for the construction of two Russian VVER-440-213 (water-cooled and moderated) type pressurized water reactors in Iran. [Note: Amrollahi reveals the agreement at the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference in September 1992. See 23 September 1992 entry. ITAR-TASS reports on 7 September that Minatom Information Department head Georgiy Kaurov says the document will be signed on 21 September at the beginning of the General Conference and will include cooperation on the industrial production of nuclear reactor and fuel cycle components and materials. IAEA sources on 15 September report the two countries have reached agreement on the basic (terms) for cooperation and will sign the pact "soon."]
—Iranian Press Release; in ENS NucNet, 30 September 1992; IRNA (Tehran), 23 September 1992; in FBIS Document JPRS-TND-92-036, 7 October 1992, p. 21; Mark Hibbs, "Russian Industry May Be Key To Iran's Reactor Prospects," Nucleonics Week, 17 September 1992, Vol. 33, No. 38, pp. 3-4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

28 August 1992
Kazakhstan's Defense Minister S. Nurmanambetov denies reports that Kazakhstan sold Iran three nuclear weapons. Nurmanambetov says, "We declare that there are no nuclear weapons on the territory of Kazakhstan. The nuclear weapons were withdrawn back in November 1991. The logical conclusion to be drawn is how can it sell what does not exist?"
—"Kazakh Defense Minister Denies Selling Iran Nuclear Weapons," The British Broadcasting Corporation, 28 August 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

September 1992
China agrees to supply Iran with two 300MW reactors. The US State Department strongly objects to the deal with the China. [Note: See 13 April 1993 entry for Iran's ratification of the agreement.] The Chinese-contracted plant will be of similar design to China's own Qinshan plant. Observers question China's ability to complete the Iranian project as key components in the Qinshan station, such as the pressure vessel, instrumentation and control, and primary pumps, were imported from international dealers. China it expects to be able to supply the components prior to the Iranian reactor's projected start up date in 2002.
—"Iran Goes Shopping For Nuclear Technology," 1992 Nuclear Engineering International, November 1992, p. 2 ; "Iran signed a nuclear cooperation pact with China," Nuclear News, October 1992, pp. 17-18; Elaine Sciolino, "China Will Build a Plant for Iran," The New York Times, 11 September 1992, p. A6; George Gedda, The Herald, 12 September 1992.

September 1992
The German press speculates that Iran and North Korea have made a secret agreement to jointly develop nuclear weapons.
—Andi Spicer, "Energy: Iran And Russia To Build Joint Nuclear Power Plant," Inter Press Service, 21 September 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

September 1992
Nucleonics Week reports that a German official and other sources say Russia has been putting pressure on the German firm Siemens AG to work with it in constructing a nuclear reactor in Iran. Germany has been resisting Russia's efforts to retransfer to Iran "advanced reactor electronic diagnostic and control technology" made by Siemens/Kraftwerk Union that the Soviet Union imported in 1989.
—Mark Hibbs, "Russian Industry May Be Key To Iran's Reactor Prospects," Nucleonics Week, 17 September 1992, Vol. 33, No. 38, pp. 3-4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

September 1992
Nucleonics Week reports that Argentine President Carlos Menem has blocked the supply to Iran of equipment for a pilot fuel fabrication plant and a uranium conversion facility. [Note: See 7 February 1992 and 2 March 1992 entries.] Argentina cancels negotiations for supplying Iran with a heavy water production plant. Iran reportedly also sought hot-cell equipment from industry in Argentina and Europe, although a US official says Iran has not obtained any equipment that can be used to reprocess fuel.
—Mark Hibbs, "Iran Sought Sensitive Nuclear Supplies from Argentina, China," Nucleonics Week, 24 September 1992, pp. 2-3.

September 1992
Iran's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed Sadeq-Ayatollahi, says that Iran is willing to accept additional safeguards on two reactors to be supplied by Russia and would have "no objections" to returning spent fuel from the reactors to Russia. [Note: As of mid-October 1992, Russia had not agreed to a US request to accept the return of spent fuel from Iran.]
—Mark Hibbs, NuclearFuel, 12 October 1992, p. 5.

2 September 1992
The Washington Times reports that Reza Amrollahi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the country would have several nuclear plants within the next 10 years. He also said that countries that refuse to help Iran with its program "will lose," in an apparent reference to West Germany, which will not allow Siemens to complete construction on a nuclear plant begun before 1980. However, "Iran is believed to closely cooperate in such matters with [China]," and India has offered to build atomic plants abroad to generate hard currency.
—Iran Sees Role As Nuclear Power Washington Times, 2 September 1991, p. A2.

7 September 1992
The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts reports that Iran and Russia plan to sign a joint declaration for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to build a nuclear power plant in Iran. The signing ceremony is to be held at the opening of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Geneva on 21 September. The cooperation between the two countries will be for the cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, joint research, the training of personnel, as well as industrial production of materials necessary for use in nuclear reactors, and the nuclear fuel cycle. However, none of this material or equipment is to be used military purposes, and is to be under strict IAEA safeguards control for the full period of their use.
—BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 7 September 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

8 September 1992
Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani denies any cooperation between Iran and Pakistan for the production of nuclear weapons. [Note: See 1991 (2), May 1991 (2), November 1991 and December 1992 for more on cooperation between Pakistan and Iran].
—BBC/SWB, 8 September 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

10 September 1992
Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani announces that China agrees to provide Iran with its first nuclear power plant (300MW). China and Iran reiterate that this plant is intended solely for peaceful purposes, and that it would be available to international inspectors in accordance with 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian President Rafsanjani and Chinese President Yang Shangkun attend the signing ceremony in China. The agreement was signed by Song Jian, Chinese Minister for Science and Technology, and Reza Amrollahi, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization. The deal calls for China to assist in the construction of at least four nuclear power stations and a research center. Iranian Central Bank Governor Mohammad Hossein Adeli is presently in Beijing signing "necessary financial arrangements." A spokesperson for the US State Department strongly criticizes the recently announced China-Iran nuclear cooperation agreement. "Any nuclear cooperation with Iran," the spokesperson says, "even for peaceful purposes and even under IAEA safeguards ... is highly imprudent and should be avoided" the spokesperson commented.
—"China Nuclear-Plant Announced," Fact on File World News Digest, 17 September 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; "Iran Goes Shopping For Nuclear Technology," 1992 Nuclear Engineering International, November 1992, p. 2; "Iran signed a nuclear cooperation pact with China," Nuclear News, October 1992, pp. 17-18; China To Supply Military, Nuclear Power Equipment: Agreement Signed In Beijing," Proliferation Issues, 16 September 1992, p. 19; "U.S. Objections Termed 'Arrogan'," Proliferation Issues, 16 September 1992, pp. 2-3.

11 September 1992
Alireza Jafarzadeh, a spokesperson for the Mojahedin-e Khalq of Iran, the largest Iranian anti-government opposition group, tells a news conference that the government in Tehran has increased the nuclear development budget from $200 million in 1991 to $800 million in 1992, and are therefore "coming closer to obtaining a nuclear bomb." He adds that according to the intelligence gathered by supporters of his group inside Iran, the plant that China has agreed to supply is intended to complete a nuclear center at a military base in Darkhovin, which is one of five nuclear sites in Iran. He also says that work on the nuclear program is running in conjunction with efforts to further the biological and chemical programs. [Note: The Mohajedin-e Khlaq is known to make exaggerated claims about the Iranian government and its nuclear program.]
—Reuters, 11 September 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

12 September 1992
The US Department of State calls China's sale of a nuclear reactor to Iran an "imprudent move" as this will heighten Iran's nuclear capability. The State Department fears that the reactor could be used for the development of nuclear weapons.
—Reuters, 11 September 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

16 September 1992
Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen rejects US concerns over the sale of a nuclear reactor to Iran, noting that Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and accepts International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
—"Iran Goes Shopping For Nuclear Technology," 1992, Nuclear Engineering International, November 1992, p. 2; "Iran signed a nuclear cooperation pact with China" Nuclear News, October 1992, pp. 17-18.

22 September 1992
An Iranian official denies knowledge of any deals with Argentina for fuel cycle facilities or a research reactor. The Iranian official also said that the only nuclear agreement Iran had with Argentina called for the supply of nuclear fuel for the 5MW research reactor at the Tehran Nuclear Research Center.
—Mark Hibbs, "Sensitive Iran Reactor Deal May Hinge On MFN For China," Nucleonics Week, 1 October 1992, pp. 5-6.

23 September 1992
Chinese official Xuehong Liu tells the journal Nucleonics Week that China "could not supply" Iran with a nuclear research reactor for "technical reasons." [Note: See March 1992 entry for entry on US pressure. The research reactor probably is a 20MW reactor. See 1 October and 17 November 1992 entries.]
—Steve Coll, "U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran; China, Argentina, Agreed to Cancel Technology Transfers," The Washington Post, 17 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

23 September 1992
Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, says that Iran is holding talks with both China and Russia the possible purchase of four nuclear reactors. The Chinese units are two 300MW reactors based on Westinghouse design but built in China. The Russian units are of the VVER-440-213 type. Amrollahi said the reactors meet IAEA safety standards and would be used for peaceful applications
—"Iran Seeks To Buy Russian, Chinese Nuclear Reactors" Compuserve-Executive News Service, 23 September 1992; "Iran Plans To Buy Four Nuclear Reactors," Moneyclips, 23 September 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

23 September 1992
At a press conference during the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announces that Iran and Russia have signed a 15-year bilateral nuclear accord on 24 August 1992. [Note: See 24 August 1992 entry.]
—Mark Hibbs, NuclearFuel, 12 October 1992, p. 5.

October 1992
Ayatollah Mohajerani, deputy president of Iran, says "because the enemy [Israel] has nuclear facilities, the Muslim states too should be equipped with the same capacity."
—Washington Post, 17 November 1992, p. A30; in Michael Eisenstadt, "Living With a Nuclear Iran?," Survival, 3 August 1999, pp. 124-148.

Early October 1992
The Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy agrees during a meeting with officials from the US Department of State that Russia will make the sale of pressurized water reactors to Iran conditional upon Iran's acceptance of additional safeguard measures. According to Russian officials, their government also accepted a US request that Russia refrain from supplying Iran with any reprocessing or enrichment technology or equipment. However, Russia did not state that it would honor a further US request that Russia accept the return of spent fuel from Iran.
—Mark Hibbs, NuclearFuel, 12 October 1992, p. 5.

1 October 1992
Nucleonics Week reports that Liu Xuehong, Chinese deputy director general of the Ministry of Energy and Bureau of International Cooperation at the China National Nuclear Corporation, says China cannot supply a 20MW reactor to Iran for "technical reasons." Iran has been seeking a 25 to 30MW heavy water-moderated natural uranium-fueled reactor. Given that Iran planned to purchase fuel cycle and heavy water production facilities from Argentina, the United States is now convinced that Iran has non-peaceful nuclear objectives. Western officials doubt that China is really unable to supply the Iranian reactor. Liu says that the reactor sought by Iran is too small to pose a proliferation threat. However, US experts speculate the reactor could be capable of producing 6kg of plutonium per year. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency does not consider such an amount to be significant, it is enough to produce a nuclear bomb. The United States has pressed China not to export the reactor. [Note: See 23 September and 17 November 1992 for entries on US pressure on China.]
—Mark Hibbs, "Sensitive Iran Reactor Deal May Hinge On MFN For China," Nucleonics Week, 1 October 1992, pp. 5-6.

12 October 1992
Mohammed Mohadessin, director of international relations for the Iranian opposition group Mojahedin-e Khalq, says Iran has paid Kazakhstan for nuclear warheads but has not received them. Mohadessin's comments match US intelligence reports. [Note: The Mohajedin-e Khlaq is known to make exaggerated claims about the Iranian government and its nuclear program.]
—Nick Ludington, "Iran Buying Nuclear Warheads from Kazakhstan Says Opposition Group," The Associated Press, 21 October 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13 October 1992
Kazakhstani and CIS military headquarters in Moscow deny that Iran bought four nuclear warheads from the former Soviet Republic. Mohammed Mohaddesin of the Mojahedin-e Khalq, says that Tehran paid for the warheads but Kazakhstan had not yet delivered them. A commentary published in the Russian military newspaper Red Star says that the accusation is false, and that all the nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan are under reliable supervision, and that no one has the ability or the desire to sell any of them.
—Associated Press, 13 October 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

15-24 October 1992
A delegation visiting Iran from the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (MINATOM) discusses the use of Russian technology for uranium extraction in Iran, possibly through joint ventures. The delegation also discusses the schedule for equipment deliveries for the reactor Russia will supply Iran under an August 1992 agreement. In considering the fuel supply for the reactor, the two sides raise the possibility of Russian involvement in prospecting for uranium deposits in Iran. The Russian team includes Atomredmetzoloto (formerly the "raw materials main administration" of the Ministry of Medium Machine Building) President Vyacheslav Krotkov, Chemical Technology Research Institute Deputy Director Boris Laskorin, and Zarubezhatomenergostroy (an independent state foreign trade association that was also previously part of the Ministry of Medium Machine Building) packaged deliveries department head Sergey Kulikov. MINATOM officials refrain from commenting on the results of the discussions.
—Kommersant-Daily, 27 October 1992, p. 4; in FBIS Document JPRS-TND-92-041, 12 November 1992, p. 22.

29 October 1992
Iranian President Hashemi-Rafsanjani and Chinese President Yang Shangkun dismiss charges of collaboration on an Iranian nuclear weapons program. China states that it is only helping Iran develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. US officials say Iran has bought uranium enrichment equipment from China and may be actively seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.
—"Iranians Deny Allegations," Proliferation Issues, 29 October 1991, p. 4; "Iranian Nuclear Collaboration Denied" Proliferation Issues, 29 October 1991, p. 3; Iran And China Dismiss Nuclear Weapons Charges Financial Times, 1 November 1991, p. 6.

14 November 1992
Mayak Radio Network (Moscow) reports that an undisclosed portion of the uranium stolen from the Chepetsk plant apparently made its way to the Russian town of Grozny, Chechnya, where it was reportedly purchased for 280 million rubles by buyers from Azerbaijan who intend to sell it to Iran for $15 million. [Note: See also 4 July 1998.]
—"Unenriched Uranium-238 Reportedly Sold in Groznyy," Proliferation Issues, 24 November 1992, p. 26.

17 November 1992
The Washington Post reports that US Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency Richard T. Kennedy managed to block Argentina's deal to supply Iran with equipment for making heavy water and nuclear fuel by agreeing to assist Investigaciones Aplicadas (INVAP), the company involved in the canceled sale, to find alternative business in the United States by developing ties with General Atomics, Inc.
—Steve Coll, "U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran," Washington Post, 17 November 1992, pp. A1, A30.

17 November 1992
The Washington Post reports that US Ambassador to Beijing J. Stapleton Ray successfully lobbied Chinese officials into stopping the transfer of a research reactor to Iran for "technical reasons." Such a reactor contains Western parts, which can be embargoed to block the sale. Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA Mohammed Ayatollahi had stated that Iran was seeking fuel-fabrication technology because there had been supply problems with the enriched uranium shipped from Argentina. [Note: The reactor proposed for transfer is probably a 20MW reactor. See 23 September and 1 October 1992 entries.]
—Steve Coll, "U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran," Washington Post, 17 November 1992, pp. A1, A30.

17 November 1992
The Washington Post reports that Pakistan denies charges that it has sold centrifuge design data it stole from Urenco to Iran.
—Steve Coll, "U.S. Halted Nuclear Bid By Iran," Washington Post, 17 November 1992, pp. A1, A30.

18 November 1992
Richard Boucher, spokesman for the US State Department, says there is no proof that Iran has purchased atomic warheads from the former Soviet Union.
—"UN inspectors become lucky nuclear supplier to Iraq identified. Baghdad continues to hold back the list of suppliers," Sueddeutsche Zeitung, 18 November 1992, p. 9; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>. [Center for Nonproliferation Studies translation.]

22 November 1992
At a meeting between Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati and the president of the China National Nuclear Corporation, Jiang Xinxiong, Velayati expresses his hope that Iran and China will strengthen their cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Jian Xinxiong is in Iran holding business talks with Iran's atomic organization leaders over the bilateral cooperation in building a 300,000kW (300MW) nuclear power station in Iran. [Note: See 31 October 1992, 8 July 1993.]
—Xinhua, 22 November 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

25 November 1992
The Chinese ambassador to Iran, Hua Liming, states that nuclear cooperation between Tehran and Beijing to build a nuclear power plant will continue despite Western objections.
—Chinese Ambassador Says Nuclear Cooperation for Peaceful Purposes Will Continue," The British Broadcasting Corporation, 27 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

27 November 1992
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Besharati says "rumors that Iran is after obtaining nuclear weapons are all lies and calculated by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution." Besharati also states, "Our weapons are not comparable with the military resources of the region qualitatively and quantitatively."
—"Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons; Official," The Xinhua News Agency, 27 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

28 November 1992
According to reports, Iranian President Rafsanjani and the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran travel to Yazd to evaluate work on a major Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps nuclear research center.
—"Opposition Says Iranian President Visits Nuclear Center," ITAR-TASS, 28 November 1992; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

30 November 1992
The New York Times reports that a CIA draft report concludes that Iran is making progress on its nuclear arms program and could develop a weapon by 2000. The highly technical report however is contentious as intelligence experts are divided on the meaning of Iran's $2 billion annual buildup.
—Elaine Sciolino, "CIA Says Iran Makes Progress on Atom Arms," New York Times, 30 November 1992; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu/>.

December 1992,
Two Iranian diplomats discuss via telephone the acquisition of four nuclear warheads by Iran from one of the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. The two diplomats are identified as an Iranian Foreign Ministry official Abdolrahmani, who is in charge of relations with the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union, and Iranian Deputy Sirus Nasiri Tabatabai-Kia, who is second in command in the Iranian delegation to United Nations institutions and international organizations in Geneva. In the tapped phone conversation between Abdolrahmani and Tabatabai-Kia, which is obtained from an European intelligence service, Abdolrahmani confirms that one of the Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union sold four warheads to Iran. Tabatabai-Kia notes that the purchases "completed their mission in the best possible way." Abdolrahmani says that the warheads had not arrived because of a problem with transportation, and that he does not know how much the warheads cost because "some other guy arranged the issue of the payment." In the course of the conversation, the names of Iranian President Rafsanjani's brother-in-law Hajj Mohsen Rafij, and the Iranian defense minister Akbar Torkan are mentioned in connection with the sale.
—"Tapped Line Said To Reveal Deal On Warheads," FBIS, 15 January 1993, pp. 61-62.

December 1992
Iran offers $3.5 billion to Pakistan to share its nuclear technology. [Note: See 19 December 1995.]
—Istashamul Haque, "Iran Offer of Money for Nuclear Technology Rejected," Dawn (Karachi), 20 December 1995, in FBIS Document FTS19951220000165, 20 December 1995; "Tehran: Not Seeking Pakistani Nuclear Technology," FBIS Document FIBS-NES-95-246, 21 December 1995; IRNA (Tehran), 21 December 1995.

24 December 1992
The Washington Post reports that the Iranian government saved the International Center for Theoretical Physics through a timely $3 million loan. The center is a small, advanced science and nuclear physics facility located in Trieste above the Adriatic Sea run by Mohammed Abdus Salam, Pakistan's preeminent theoretical and nuclear physicist, who oversees post-doctoral work done by government-employed nuclear and other scientists from Third World countries including Iran.
—Steve Coll, "Loan From Tehran Saves Third World Nuclear Research Center," Washington Post, 24 December 1996; in Gulf 2000, <http://www1.columbia.edu>.