Iranian Exile Accuses Tehran of Building Covert Nuclear Facility

An Iranian exile has accused Tehran of building a secret underground facility for enriching uranium at the Parchin military complex in northern Iran.

Ali Reza Jafarzadeh, who has previously revealed accurate information about two hidden nuclear sites in Iran, told VOA Thursday that the Parchin facility was recently completed.

Mr. Jafarzadeh cited what he called sources inside the regime. He said the new facility has the capability to enrich uranium using laser technology. In certain forms, enriched uranium can be used to fuel nuclear weapons.

In January, international nuclear inspectors visited Parchin, but Tehran denied a second request to revisit the facility.

The United States has alleged that Iran is engaged in secret nuclear weapons research at Parchin, a charge Iran denies.

Mr. Jafarzadeh previously was the spokesman for the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.