US steps up spying on Iran
5 Dec 2012 5:09 AM IST
Alarmed over security of weapons-grade plutonium in Iran's secretive Bushehr nuclear plant, US has significantly stepped up spying operations over the Persian Gulf country.
The Americans are increasing the surveillance of Iran's southwestern coast by deploying Pentagon's fleet of drones operating over the Persian Gulf and the electronic eye in the sky has intercepted visual images and audio communication from the reactor complex, The Wall Street Journal reported.
US drones are intercepting cellphones, electronic communications and other signals from the reactor, the paper said quoting American intelligence sources.
Surveillance at Bushehr was stepped up especially after two fuel rods from the plant were removed in October, just two months from the time it became operational, officials said.
Nuclear experts, however, at the moment are more concerned over the safety of the plant than about possibility of Iran using it to develop nuclear weapons.
Tehran has been complaining that US was spying on Bushehr and had at times even sent fighter jets to pursue the unmanned craft, firing at them but missing.
The Americans are increasing the surveillance of Iran's southwestern coast by deploying Pentagon's fleet of drones operating over the Persian Gulf and the electronic eye in the sky has intercepted visual images and audio communication from the reactor complex, The Wall Street Journal reported.
US drones are intercepting cellphones, electronic communications and other signals from the reactor, the paper said quoting American intelligence sources.
Surveillance at Bushehr was stepped up especially after two fuel rods from the plant were removed in October, just two months from the time it became operational, officials said.
Nuclear experts, however, at the moment are more concerned over the safety of the plant than about possibility of Iran using it to develop nuclear weapons.
Tehran has been complaining that US was spying on Bushehr and had at times even sent fighter jets to pursue the unmanned craft, firing at them but missing.
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