The United States has succeeded in capturing a shipment
of
nuclear material bound for Iran.
The Bush administration said the U.S.-led Proliferation Security
Initiative halted missile and nuclear shipments to Iran and other
adversaries. Officials said some of the shipments were sent by North Korea.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the shipments to Iran were
seized in 2005. Ms. Rice said that over the last few months
the United States and 10 of its PSI partners cooperated in 11 successful
interdiction efforts.
In an address to foreign diplomats on Tuesday, Ms. Rice said PSI
participants seized a shipment of materials and equipment destined for
ballistic missile programs in Iran and other countries. She did not
elaborate.
"In the last nine months alone, the United States and 10 of our PSI
partners have quietly cooperated on 11 successful efforts," Ms. Rice said.
"For example, PSI cooperation stopped the trans-shipment of material and
equipment bound for ballistic missile programs in countries of concern,
including Iran. PSI partners, working at times with others, have prevented
Iran from procuring goods to support its missile and WMD [weapons of mass
destruction] programs, including its nuclear program."
In her briefing, the secretary said PSI members also prevented another
country from procuring equipment used to produce fuel for its ballistic
missile program. She did not identify the country, but indicated that the
capture took place in 2005.
"Bilateral PSI cooperation prevented the ballistic missile program in
another region from receiving equipment used to produce propellant," Ms.
Rice said.
PSI was established in 2003 in an effort to halt the trafficking in
WMD and missiles. Officials said more than 60 countries now support the
initiative, which has included efforts to disrupt proliferation networks.
"We are cutting off the finances of those who facilitate the WMD trade,
and we are working to strengthen national and international laws against WMD
trafficking," Ms. Rice said.
