New highly-enriched uranium traces discovered in Iran

According to Reuters, "U.N. inspectors have discovered new traces of highly-enriched uranium on nuclear equipment in Iran, deepening suspicions Tehran may still be concealing the full extent of its atomic enrichment program". The samples were taken from "a former research center at Lavizan-Shiyan". The center has since been "razed".

The discovery suggests that there may indeed be a secret, military-related Iranian nuclear program "alongside the one [Iran] has declared" (the Lavizan center "advised the defense ministry").

I do not take back my recent assertion that there may yet be room for negotiation to resolve this escalating crisis, but clearly there is now additional cause for concern. After all, as Ed Morrissey determines, "the Iranians have weapons-grade uranium somewhere".

Well, maybe. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. As with previous discoveries of highly-enriched uranium in Iran, there could be another explanation ("contamination on second-hand Pakistani equipment," for example). Although we are running out of time, we need to know more about Iran's nuclear program, about Lavizan, about its military component.

By all means, talk to Iran. Negotiate in good faith. But don't give Ahmadinejad the benefit of the doubt. There's still a long way to go before Iran will have earned our trust.

If it ever will.