Israel hands over list of Russian scientist helping Iran nuke operation to Moscow

London, Oct. 4 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has handed over a list and evidence to Moscow, showing that some Russian scientists have been helping Iran to develop a nuclear bomb.

Netanyahu's revelation came during his secret Moscow visit where he held urgent talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev.

"We have heard that Netanyahu came with a list and concrete evidence showing that Russians are helping the Iranians to develop a bomb," Times Online quoted a Russian defence ministry source, as saying.

"That is why it was kept secret. The point is not to embarrass Moscow, rather to spur it into action," he added.

According to Israeli sources, it was a short, tense meeting at which Netanyahu named the Russian experts said to be assisting Iran in its nuclear programme. American officials said concern about Russian experts acting without official approval, had been raised by the IAEA last year. "There has been Russian help. It is not the government, it is individuals, at least one helping Iran on weaponisation activities and it is worrisome," said David Albright, a former weapons inspector. However, Israeli officials insist that any Russian scientists working in Iran could do so only with official approval. The report quoted the special adviser for non-proliferation and arms control to Hillary Clinton, Robert Einhorn, as saying that Russian companies have also supplied material that has been used by Iran in the production of ballistic missiles.

The disclosures came as Iran agreed at talks in Geneva to submit to IAEA inspections of its clandestine enrichment plant, which is being built under a mountain on a military base at Qom. (ANI)