London: Scientists and officials working on Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme have admitted for the first time that they provided crucial technical information to Iran on building an atomic bomb, media reported today (Jan 25, 2004).

According to a report in 'The Sunday Telegraph' today, three of the eight people detained in Karachi last weekend over allegations that nuclear secrets were sold abroad have admitted that they helped in passing secret nuclear know-how to their counterparts in Iran.

The two scientists and one official working for Khan Research Laboratory (KRL), the headquarters of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, include close associates of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is known as 'Father of Pakistan's Bomb'.

One is said to be a senior manager of KRL and an expert in centrifuge technology.

All three deny supplying equipment directly to Iran but one scientist admitted, "We confided in them about the items needed to construct a nuclear bomb, as well as the makes of equipment, the names of companies, the countries from which they could be procured and how they could be procured."

According to the report, scientists are also said to have revealed the names of retired senior Army officials and nuclear experts who played key roles in deals, which helped Iran to launch its nuclear weapons programme.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had promised that, "We will move against anybody who proliferated... because they are enemies of the State."