DATE=9-17-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS IRAN (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-307627

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A group of U-S Congressmen and Israeli Knesset members met Wednesday in an unusual session in Washington to discuss Iran. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports the lawmakers heard testimony about dangers posed by Iran's nuclear program.

TEXT: A panel of experts told a meeting of the U-S-Israel Joint Parliamentary Committee on Capitol Hill that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

Gary Mulholland is director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control.

/// MULHOLLAND ACTUALITY ///

Iran is in fact emerging rapidly as the new mass destruction weapon threat in the Middle East. It is clear to me, at least, from what I know that if Iran continues down its present path, we will be looking at a new nuclear weapons power within the next few years.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Mulholland said Iran is also developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Europe or the United States. He said there is only one aim to such missiles: to deliver nuclear weapons.

/// OPT /// That prompted a response from Yuval Steinitz, a member of the Israeli Knesset:

/// STEINITZ OPT ACTUALITY ///

The Iranian nuclear program is really a military nuclear program with the aim of threatening not just the Middle East or Israel, but NATO and Europe, and maybe to be able to target the United States of America.

/// END ACT ///

U-S Assistant Secretary of State Paula De Sutter warned that Iran's nuclear program, if allowed to continue, could weaken the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty:

/// DE SUTTER ACTUALITY ///

If left unchallenged, Iran's development of a nuclear weapons' program will seriously weaken the N-P-T and the I-A-E-A. Already faced with North Korea's brazen disregard for its treaty obligations, the N-P-T would be undermined still further if Iran were able to disregard its treaty obligations in a similar way.

/// END ACT ///

North Korea has withdrawn from the treaty and says it is making nuclear weapons.

The I-A-E-A is giving Iran until the end of next month to prove that it does not have a nuclear weapons program. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Ms. De Sutter said if the I-A-E-A finds Iran violated the treaty, the issue would be referred to the U-N Security Council. But she did not say what the United States expects to happen at that point.

Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican, said he is considering introducing a resolution aimed at pressing Iran to comply with the I-A-E-A's demands:

/// KYL ACTUALITY ///

What it would essential say is that the Congress is strongly of the view that Iran needs to come into compliance with the agreements it has signed. It needs to be fully transparent for the I-A-E-A inspections and that the report of the I-A-E-A needs to follow guidelines that would, if it does not, would result in a resolution of disapproval by the security council of the United Nations and potentially actions by nations of the world to institute further sanctions or controls in its dealings with the country of Iran.

/// END ACT ///

Senator Kyl says his Senate colleagues have reacted positively to the idea of such a resolution. (signed)

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