UPI: Iran is building a secret tunnel in Tehran for nuclear weapons research and development, an Iranian dissident has claimed. United Press International
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (UPI) — Iran is building a secret tunnel in Tehran for nuclear weapons research and development, an Iranian dissident has claimed.
The tunnel was being constructed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Alireza Jafarzadeh, president of Strategic Policy Consulting, Inc. told a meeting at the National Press Club in Washington Tuesday. Jafarzadeh has made similar allegations before. It has not been possible to independently verify all of them.
Jafarzadeh said he had been informed by sources inside the Iranian regime that Iran was constructing a top-secret tunnel as part of its nuclear weapons program.
“The secret tunnel carries the code name ‘Hormuz Tunnel.’ It is intended to further the regime’s nuclear weapons research and development. The tunnel is located in the vicinity of the Mini-City (Shahrak-e Bazi), northeast Tehran,” he said in a statement.
Jafarzadeh said the tunnel was located next to Tehran-Lashkarak Highway in the vicinity of Mini-City sited in the northeastern part of Tehran in a mountain slope. “This location is close to a residential area so that it might blend in with a community. That is, it would not appear to be a suspect nuclear site in such a place. This location might deceive inspectors who would not imagine a sensitive nuclear site to be located near a neighborhood,” he said.
Jafarzadeh said the design for this tunnel was completed in 2004 and its construction began in March 2005. It was being built by the Hara Company which the IRGC used for secret military programs. “In the past, this same company has built other tunnels for the nuclear activities of Iran’s Defense Ministry. This firm is experienced in building anti-radiation walls,” he said.
Jafarzadeh said his sources were “confident that the tunnel is being built for nuclear weapons research and development.”
