Nuclear agency tests support Iranian claims

VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- U.N. nuclear agency tests have concluded that traces of highly enriched uranium on centrifuge parts were from imported equipment -- rather than from any enrichment activities by Iran, a senior Western diplomat said Saturday.
The findings support Iran's contentions that the material entered the country together with centrifuge parts provided by Pakistan.
The diplomat who confirmed the results spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.
"The source of contamination was not related to Iran," said Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi. "We are sure the source is not internal."
The United States has alleged the material was produced by Tehran and the particles were evidence that Iran was experimenting with producing highly enriched uranium, which is only used in nuclear weapons.