WASHINGTON, December 19, 2024 – The U.S. Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) revealed alarming new details about the Iranian regime’s covert nuclear activities during a press conference in Washington, DC. These revelations, supported by detailed intelligence, highlight Tehran’s accelerated efforts to develop nuclear warheads, including advancements in detonation technologies, under the guise of civilian projects.
Focus on METFAZ and SPND
Drawing on information from the network of the People’s Mojahedin Organization inside Iran, the NCRI revealed that activities at the Center for Research and Expansion of Technologies on Explosions and Impact (METFAZ) have significantly intensified. METFAZ operates under the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND), a subdivision of Iran’s Ministry of Defense, commanded by Brigadier General Reza Mozafarinia. SPND’s operations are designed to progress Tehran’s nuclear warhead development while evading international scrutiny.
“While global attention remains fixated on uranium enrichment levels, the Iranian regime is covertly advancing the weaponization aspect of its nuclear program,” said Soona Samsami, NCRI’s U.S. Representative. She emphasized the regime’s reliance on deception to obstruct verification efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
NCR-US Press Conference to Reveal Intensification of Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program, Dec 19, 2024
🔶️ NCRI-US deputy director @A_Jafarzadeh shared the names of several of the key experts involved in the weaponization program.#Iran #IranNuclear pic.twitter.com/z4PCy11QFW— NCRI-U.S. Rep Office (@NCRIUS) December 19, 2024
The Role of Arvin Kimia Abzar Company
A significant part of METFAZ’s activities is conducted under the cover of the Arvin Kimia Abzar Company, purportedly an oil and gas industry firm. However, NCRI intelligence reveals that this company, located at the newly renamed Meshkat Complex near the village of Sanjarian, is a front for nuclear detonation projects. The company’s leadership includes:
- Saeed Borji, a senior SPND official and IRGC member since 1980, was trained by Ukrainian nuclear scientist Vyacheslav Danilenko in explosive technologies.
- Akbar Motallebizadeh, the CEO, is linked to high-explosive and nuclear warhead development.
These individuals are key players in advancing Exploding Bridgewire (EBW) detonators, a crucial component of nuclear weapons.
Expanded Facilities and Secrecy Measures
Satellite imagery shows significant expansions at the Plan 6 facilities of the Parchin site, known as Zeinoddin Industries, and the Meshkat Complex in Sanjarian. Both locations are heavily guarded, and locals are prohibited from accessing the vicinity. Villagers near Sanjarian have reported military confiscation of land and water resources, further emphasizing the site’s classified nature.
Call for Immediate Action
Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of NCRI’s U.S. Office, called for immediate inspections of these sites by the IAEA, stating, “The regime’s lack of transparency and rapid progress toward nuclear weapons demands urgent international attention.” He criticized the West’s longstanding policy of appeasement, arguing that it has allowed Tehran to exploit diplomacy to advance its nuclear ambitions.
Policy Recommendations
The NCRI urged the activation of the UN Security Council’s snapback mechanism under Resolution 2231 and the reinstatement of all sanctions. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, NCRI’s President-elect, reiterated her call for a non-nuclear Iran as part of a democratic transition plan. “The only sustainable solution to this escalating threat is the overthrow of the regime by the Iranian people and organized resistance,” Samsami concluded.
These revelations underscore the Iranian regime’s persistent deceit and the urgency of coordinated international action to prevent Tehran from obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapon.