U.S. Investigating Chinese Nuclear Assistance to Iran

WASHINGTON —  The Bush Administration has expressed its concern to the government of China about intelligence reports indicating that the Chinese sold nuclear technology to Iran, a top State Department official said Wednesday.

Richard H. Solomon, assistant secretary of state for East Asia, acknowledged in testimony before a Senate panel that China sold nuclear technology to Iran, raising concerns in the Bush Administration over whether the Chinese are adhering to promises not to spread weapons.

“It appears that there is sale of some nuclear-related technologies,” Solomon told a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “There is something going on here. It’s something that we have talked to the Chinese about and will pursue.”

Other Administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed Tuesday that China provided Iran with critical equipment to develop nuclear weapons, including technology used to enrich uranium to weapons-grade quality.

Washington has known for some time that Iran was trying to develop nuclear technology that could be used to produce weapons. But as recently as June, Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger said there was no evidence that the Chinese were assisting Iran.

The new reports of China’s involvement with Iran’s nuclear program raised fresh concerns among some senators over President Bush’s refusal to end favorable trade benefits for Beijing. China also has been accused of selling missiles to Pakistan and Syria and helping Algeria develop a nuclear program.

“The evidence has just now come to light that Iran, of all countries, is developing a nuclear weapon with Chinese support,” said Sen. Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), chairman of the subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific affairs. “That’s a very, very serious situation, obviously.”

Solomon said that the transfer of Chinese nuclear technology to Iran had been detected in recent intelligence reports. He said that he will disclose details--such as when the United States discovered the sales and the types of technology--only in a closed session with senators. He also declined to say how close Iran may be to developing a nuclear weapon. But another Administration official said Tuesday that Tehran is at an early stage in its program.

With the onset of the Persian Gulf War, U.S. officials said that Iran appeared to have stepped up its research on uranium enrichment and other aspects of weapons development. Those efforts have included increased attempts to buy technology abroad, several sources said.

Iranian resistance leaders contended Wednesday that Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran’s president, has authorized spending millions of dollars to acquire enriched uranium and the technology to produce the weapons-grade material. Acquisition efforts are going on in Europe, as well as with China and other countries, said Shahin Gobadi, one resistance leader.