ACCESSION NUMBER:377006

FILE ID:NEA201

DATE:01/31/95

TITLE:STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1995 (01/31/95)

TEXT:*95013105.PFN  nesa 1/31 state dept report, Iranian poison gas/kf+

*NEA201   01/31/95

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT, TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1995

(Taken question: Iran)  (150)

IRANIAN POISON GAS FACILITY

The Office of the Spokesman on January 31 posted the following response to a

taken question:



Q:  What do we know of reports of work on a new nerve-gas plant in Iran?

A:  We have seen the press reports.  We do not comment on the alleged

contents of an intelligence report from another government.



The U.S. has long been concerned about Iran's efforts to acquire weapons of

mass destruction.  We believe that it has a chemical weapons capability

which it is seeking to improve, despite its having signed the Chemical

Weapons Convention.



The U.S. does not allow the sale of CW precursor chemicals to Iran and we

have shared these concerns with a number of governments.



1NNN



.