Report: Russian scientist aided Iranian nuclear program

         The Washington Post newspaper is reporting that a Russian nuclear physicist could have played a key role in helping Iran to come close to developing nuclear weapons. Citing unnamed diplomatic and intelligence sources, the newspaper says former Soviet nuclear expert Vyacheslav Danilenko "allegedly tutored Iranians over several years on building high-precision detonators of the kind used to trigger a nuclear chain reaction." According to the paper, Danilenko, who had been reportedly contacted by investigators from the UN nuclear watchdog agency, aknowledged his role in assisting Iranian scientists but "said he thought his work was limited to assisting civilian engineering projects." The paper said there is no evidence that Russian authorities knew of Danilenko's activities in Iran. The paper added that Pakistani and North Korean scientists also helped Iranian experts in theoretical design work. The director general of the IAEA is due to present his latest report on the Iranian nuclear program this week. (23,28)