News In Brief

April 26, 1984

Iran on verge of A-bomb, Jane's weekly indicates$95;London

Iran is likely to have its own nuclear bomb within two years, according to press reports cited by Jane's Defense Weekly. The magazine, part of the authoritative Jane's Publications on weapons systems, said Tuesday that reports from the Persian Gulf region last week indicated the bomb was ''entering its final stages'' of production at a nuclear power plant in southern Iran.

In Washington, a source familiar with Iran's nuclear program appeared to doubt Iran was near construction of a nuclear device. A Jane's editor said his publication had not been able to verify the reports independantly.