Oh, That Weapons Grade Uranium

Iran acknowledges that traces of weapons-grade uranium has been found on its soil.

An Iranian official

ruled out that what was found there and at another facility at Natanz, was locally produced, saying the traces came in on contaminated equipment that was bought abroad.

That argument first surfaced in a report presented to the board meeting that set the October deadline, detailing the Natanz find and other activities feeding suspicions about Iran's nuclear intentions.

And if you think that is comforting, get a load of this:

Iran has refused to say where it bought the contaminated equipment, but diplomats have told The Associated Press the most likely country of origin was Pakistan. Former IAEA inspector David Albright said that could mean Iran was telling the truth.

The isotopes found in the traces of weapons-grade uranium on centrifuges at Natanz this year do "not have the signature of Europe," he said by telephone from Washington. "The finger points at Pakistan."

Ah, the world of diplomacy, where even the world's most murderous thugs always get the benefit of the doubt.