(JNS.org) Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said that Iran has used its Parchin military base for secret testing of nuclear weapons technology. Citing “highly reliable information,” Steinitz said, “these kinds of tests can have no ‘dual use’ explanation, since the only possible purpose of such internal neutron sources is to ignite the nuclear chain reaction in nuclear weapons,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

In November 2013, the U.S. and the other P5+1 powers reached a six-month interim deal with Iran on its nuclear program. In July, those countries and Iran agreed to extend the Iran nuclear talks to Nov. 24, 2014.

Last week, President Obama told the U.N. General Assembly that America “is pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, as part of our commitment to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and pursue the peace and security of a world without them. … This can only happen if Iran takes this historic opportunity. My message to Iran’s leaders and people is simple: do not let this opportunity pass. We can reach a solution that meets your energy needs while assuring the world that your program is peaceful.”