The Daily Beast on Friday conveyed analysis from a new U.S. intelligence report warning that North Korea may resume its export of nuclear technology and material, noting further that “the comprehensive nuclear deal Iran is negotiating with the West could be undermined by increased Iranian cooperation with North Korea.” Citing diplomatic and intelligence sources, the Daily Beast outlined a scenario under which Iran would continue to bolster its ballistic missile program – which it is not only doing, but is allowed to do under the current interim agreement – while forgoing the production of highly enriched uranium. Tehran would under this scenario construct a missile-deliverable nuclear weapon with ballistic missile technology it built and nuclear material that it bought off the shelf from North Korea. David Albright, president of the U.S.-based Institute of Science and International Security, put the revelations in the context of comprehensive negotiations between Iran and the international community over the former’s nuclear program.

“You don’t want North Korea to become Iran’s supplier for critical components for their centrifuge program. Raw materials that Iran needs to go out and buy. If Iran can buy the raw materials they need from North Korea, there’s no way to control that or stop it,” said David Albright, president of ISIS. “Part of the challenge of these negotiations is to make sure there are conditions to say that at least if Iran cooperates with North Korea on nuclear, that would be a violation of the agreement.”

North Korea is creating a program for up to 10,000 centrifuges but nobody knows how many are operational, said Albright. “That provides Iran another option to keep their [highly enriched uranium] program advancing,” he said.

In mid-January Agence France-Presse published assessments from U.S. officials evaluating that Iran was still looking to circumvent international sanctions and acquire nuclear material.

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