Nuclear warning station built near Iranian border
UN announces completion of nuclear warning station near Turkmenistan-Iran border. Station can detect extremely weak blasts, shock waves caused by nuclear experiments
Washington- The United Nations announced Thursday it completed building a primary seismic warning station near the Iranian border that can detect shock waves caused by nuclear experiments.
The station will allow the major powers to monitor Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna published an official announcement on its website confirming the establishment of the station, which will be used to detect earth quakes and radioactivity.
The station was built in the city of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan – only several miles away from the Iranian border.
Three hundred and forty stations that monitor seismic activity caused by nuclear blasts already exist worldwide.
The decision to build a station near the Iranian border came following intelligence reports showing that Iran has built a 400 meter-deep underground site that might be used to hold nuclear tests.
The warning station can detect extremely weak blasts, measuring as low as 2.75 on the Richter scale.
Earlier, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said time is running out for Iran to avoid sanctions over its nuclear program. Gibbs reemphasized that Iran's deadline remains the end of the year.
In recent weeks, Iran has avoided responding to the powers vis-à-vis transferring its Uranium overseas. However, it did announce it will build several nuclear facilities, which it is not obligated to report.
