Le 10 juin 2007, dans un article publié sur son site internet, le journal britannique The Observer, révélait le démantèlement d’un marché noir de vente d’uranium hautement enrichi, impliquant une société du royaume, à l’Iran avec le Soudan comme point de transit des approvisionnements. Même si ce genre d’information est à prendre avec beaucoup de pincettes, surtout parce qu’il s’agit de la question iranienne, il n’en demeure pas moins vrai que la situation a un air de déjà vu !
Et pour preuve, l’interception d’un navire allemand, le BBC China, en octobre 2003, débouchant sur la découverte de nombreux matériels nucléaires permettant de construire des centrifugeuses, destinées à enrichir de l’uranium, à destination de la Libye, avait alors permis de dévoiler l’existence, l’ampleur et la portée du plus grand réseau clandestin de prolifération nucléaire de l’histoire, mis en place le désormais célèbre scientifique pakistanais, Abdul Qaader Khan. Pour Washington, l’opération est à mettre au crédit de la Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Est-ce également le cas de l’affaire révélée par le quotidien londonien ? On ne le sait pas encore. Peut-être ne le saura t-on jamais ! Ce qui amène à se poser deux questions primordiales à son propos : quatre ans après son lancement, quel bilan dresser de l’initiative ? Quelles sont les perspectives envisageables pour les prochaines années ? Cet article tentera d’y apporter des éléments de réponses.
A LIRE :
- Mark TOWNSEND, « MI6 probes UK link to nuclear trade with Iran », The Observer,
Mark
TOWNSEND, « MI6 probes UK link to nuclear trade with Iran », The
Observer,
A
British company has been closed down after being caught in an apparent attempt
to sell black-market weapons-grade uranium to Iran and Sudan, The Observer can
reveal.
Anti-terrorist
officers and MI6 are now investigating a wider British-based plot allegedly to
supply Iran with material for use in a nuclear weapons programme. One person
has already been charged with attempting to proliferate 'weapons of mass
destruction'.
During
the 20-month investigation, which also involved MI5 and Customs and Excise, a
group of Britons was tracked as they obtained weapons-grade uranium from the
black market in Russia. Investigators believe it was intended for export to
Sudan and on to Iran.
A
number of Britons, who are understood to have links with Islamic terrorists
abroad, remain under surveillance. Investigators believe they have uncovered
the first proof that al-Qaeda supporters have been actively engaged in
developing an atomic capability. The British company, whose identity is known
to The Observer but cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, has been wound up.
A
Customs and Excise spokesman said: 'We continue to investigate allegations
related to the supply of components for nuclear programmes including related
activities of British nationals.'
It
is not clear whether all of those involved in the alleged nuclear conspiracy
were aware of the uranium's ultimate destination or of any intended use.
British
agents believe Russian black-market uranium was destined for Sudan, described
as a 'trans-shipment' point. The alleged plot, however, was disrupted in early
2006, before the nuclear material reached its final destination.
Roger
Berry, chairman of Parliament's Quadripartite Committee, which monitors arms
exports, said: 'With the collapse of the Soviet Union there was always the
question over not just uranium but where other WMD components were going and
how this could be controlled. Real credit must go to the enforcement
authorities that they have disrupted this. The really worrying aspect is that
if one company is involved, are there others out there?'
Politically,
the allegations hold potentially huge ramifications for diplomatic relations
between the West and Tehran. Already, tensions are running high between Iran,
the US and the European Union over the true extent of Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Iran refuses to suspend its nuclear programme in the face of mounting pressure,
arguing its intent is entirely peaceful and solely aimed at producing power for
civilian use.
Investigators
are understood to have evidence that Iran was to receive the uranium to help
develop a nuclear weapons capability. 'They may argue that the material is for
civilian use but it does seem an extremely odd way to procure uranium,' said
Berry.
Alleged
evidence of Sudan's role will concern British security services. The East
African state has long been suspected of offering a haven for Islamist
terrorists and has been accused of harbouring figures including Osama bin Laden
who, during the mid-Nineties, set up a number of al-Qaeda training camps in the
country.
Details
of the plot arrive against a backdrop of increasing co-operation between Sudan
and Iran on defence issues, although the level of involvement, if any, of the
governments in Khartoum and Tehran in the alleged nuclear plot is unclear.
However,
circumstantial evidence suggesting that elements within both countries might be
colluding on military matters has been mounting in recent months. A Sudanese
delegation visited Iran's uranium conversion facility in February, while the
East African country reportedly recently signed a mutual defence co-operation
pact with Iran, allowing Tehran to deploy ballistic missiles in Sudan.
Jean-Marie Collin