The Spy Who Sold Nuclear Secrets to Iran | The Seeds of Revenge | 1

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0:191974, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Fritz Viermann steps out of the brick factory building he works in and into the drizzling rain. He unfurls his umbrella and hurries towards the nearby bridge over the canal. He looks back to check no one's following him. Then he checks again. Wehrmann works for a company called FDO. It designs components for ultra-centrifuges that enrich uranium. These advanced centrifuges are mainly used for nuclear power, but they can also produce uranium for nuclear weapons. And that's why FDO's designs are classified. Wehrmann reaches a street with a smattering of shops and approaches a phone booth.

1:03He checks he's not being tailed once more, then steps inside.

1:10He calls a number he's jotted down on a scrap of paper. A secretary answers. Director's office, Yurenko. Yurenko is FTO's biggest customer, a nuclear technology consortium founded by the British, German and Dutch governments. I need to speak to the director. He's busy right now. I must speak with him. It's very important. Well, he's unavailable. I can take a message. The Eman isn't sure what to do. He's not even sure he should be making this call. But if his hunch is right, the world is in danger. Sir, are you still there? Yes. Yes, I... I work at FDO as a technical photographer and... Shall I ask the director to call you there?

1:53No, no. Listen, I am concerned about a colleague of mine. Dr Abdul Qadir Khan. He does things, things I don't think he should. I don't follow. Veerman gulps. She's going to make him say it. Say what was, until now, only a private thought. I don't know how else to put this, but I think Abdul's a spy. A spy? Yes, for Pakistan. A spy for Pakistan? Yes. You must tell the director this. Veerman hangs up. His emotions now are a sea of relief and horror at what he's just done. Khan is his friend, one of his only friends, and the only FDO scientist who treats him with respect. Wehrman wonders if he misread the situation.

2:43He hopes not, but he also hopes he has. Because if Khan is a spy, then he's stealing advanced nuclear technology. Technology that could make atomic bombs. And if that happens, the risk of nuclear war will become even greater.

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4:09I'm Raza Jaffrey and this is The Spy Who, an Audible original. Beneath the veneer of the everyday lurks the realm of the spy. It's a dank, murky world full of dark corners, sinister motives and corrupted morals. A place of paranoia and infiltration, sabotage and manipulation. In this series, we tell Abdul Khadir Khan, the Pakistani scientist spy who sold nuclear weapons technology to Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, Libya and more. In his homeland, A.Q. Khan became a national hero. the man who gave Pakistan the bomb. Elsewhere, he's seen as one of the most dangerous men who ever lived and devious enough to leave Western intelligence struggling to shut down his atomic bazaar.

5:00What you're about to hear are dramatized reconstructions of events based on the information that's been made public. But remember, in the shadow realm of the spy, the full story is rarely clear. You're listening to The Spy Who Sold Nuclear Secrets to Iran. This is Episode 1, The Seeds of Revenge.

5:25A few months before Fritz Wehrmann's phone call. May 1974, Amsterdam. A.Q. Khan wanders a canal side with Wehrmann, their work colleagues, and on their way to get lunch. Wehrman's an awkward man, shunned as a child because of his German mother and still living with his parents despite being in his 30s He's an outsider, just like Khan Khan came to Europe from Pakistan a decade ago He planned to study metallurgy, then go back But fate intervened He completed his studies, married a Dutch woman and took a job at FDO He and Wehrman met on his first day at FDO and they bonded over a shared interest in photography.

6:11Now, they often spend their lunch breaks together, chatting. But today, Khan is anything but happy. And that's because India's just tested its first nuclear weapon. How can the world stand by and allow this to happen? I fear for my country. Nobody there is safe now. It's not good, but India is saying it's a peaceful test to deterrent. Peaceful? Indian liars, they hate Pakistan. They want to destroy us. Surely not. The newspapers say the test was more about sending China a message. You don't know the Indians like I do. You don't know what India is capable of. After partition, my family and millions of other Muslims like us were driven from our homes.

6:55Villages were burned. Women abducted. Train loads of ordinary citizens massacred. I understand, but no, no, you do not understand. And when I left India for Pakistan, their border guards robbed me of the pen my brother gave me for no reason. It wasn't valuable. It was only of sentimental value. The Hindus are crooks. They cannot be trusted with a nuclear bomb. But every nation wants security. And what of Pakistan's security? Veerman doesn't reply. It's clear he wants to change the subject. But as they walk in silence, Khan feels inspiration dawn. Maybe he, the scientist with access to advanced nuclear technology, is the answer to Pakistan's security.

7:45Five months later, Al Mello, the Eastern Netherlands. Khan follows his manager through the Urenco's uranium enrichment plant toward a small metal structure set apart from the main facility. It's a secure office area known as the Brain Box. The Brain Box holds highly classified designs, such as details of the G2, a new centrifuge that can enrich uranium to weapons grade. Khan isn't cleared to be in here, but his manager seems unconcerned. He pulls several box files from a shelf. This is the documentation for the G2, but it's all in German. I need them translated as quickly as possible. Kahn is one of the few scientists involved with Yarenko, who knows both Dutch and German.

8:33And his manager is willing to bend the rules to get the G2's documentation translated faster. Kahn gets to work, translating the documents page by page. But he realizes this is also an opportunity to learn all about Europe's latest top secret centrifuge. Bismillah. He takes a sheaf of paper and begins making additional notes in his mother tongue, Urdu. A passing colleague stops and peers at the script on the page. What's that you're writing? What language is that? Khan looks up. It's Urdu. It's a letter to my family in Pakistan. I'm so busy I rarely have time to write to them. So I thought I'd skip lunch, do it now.

9:18Khan smiles at the colleague. One thing he's learned in Europe is that a smile is often all it takes to gain someone's trust. The colleague smiles back and walks away.

9:36Two months later, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, strides down the corridor towards his office. An aide keeps pace beside him. Your next meeting is with Dr. Abdul-Hadir Khan. Butto slows slightly. The scientist from Amsterdam? Yes, sir. The one who wrote to you, claiming he can help our nuclear program. So he checked out. Yes, our people in Europe confirmed he's genuine. Butto enters a meeting room. Khan is sitting, but rises instantly on seeing Butto. Prime Minister, please sit. I understand you believe you could help Pakistan. I know I can. I work in the Dutch nuclear industry.

10:21I have access to the latest Centrivue technology, vital to weapons-grade uranium enrichment, and I have already taken detailed notes about that technology. Butto's interest sharpens. Two years ago, he started a secret nuclear weapons program following a decisive defeat in a 13-day war with India. But it's enormously costly for a nation where many go hungry. And progress is slow. Butto's interested in anything that can help. Khan sits forward in his chair. I wish to return to Pakistan and apply my knowledge to our program. Dr. Khan, I am grateful for your visit. But you must stay in Europe. But why?

11:02I understand more than your scientists here. And you can increase that knowledge by remaining in Amsterdam. You're in a unique position. The information you have access to could save us many years of work. Staying where you are is how you can best serve your country.

11:24One month later, January 1975. Brussels, Belgium. Inside Pakistan's embassy, Khan sits with Sadiq Bhatt. Officially, Bhatt is a Pakistani diplomat. Unofficially, he runs Pakistan's secret efforts to procure what it needs to make nuclear weapons. And now, he's also running Khan as a spy. The designs you are getting are extremely useful. But acquiring materials and equipment is just as critical. What I need are details of what is needed to build a uranium enrichment plant. A shopping list, if you like. It won't be straightforward. There are export controls. Nothing that a few front companies and false end-user certificates won't get around.

12:08Maybe. But my specifications will be exact. Centrifuges are precision instruments. A microscopic floor in metal thickness or a tiny vibration imbalance and the whole machine will fail. And orders with that level of precision will attract attention. We have been doing this for some time, Dr. Khan. We take care to work with suppliers who don't understand the end use and those who will look the other way for the right price. Khan knows this is risky. If Pakistan's front companies start placing precise orders based on Yurenko's designs, it could be traced back to him. But it's a risk he's prepared to take to protect his country.

13:06A couple of months later, spring 1975, the town of Zwannenberg on the outskirts of Amsterdam. In Kahn's house, Fritz Viermann sits at the dining table, finishing the last of his fried chicken. He smiles at Kahn's Dutch wife, Henny. That was excellent. Would you like more? There's plenty in the oven. Viermann is full, but he needs a moment alone with Kahn. He's spotted something in the corner of the room that shouldn't be there. Centrifuge components. Yes, please, I'd love some. It's been more than a year since Vierman called Yurenko about his fear that Khan might be a spy. Yurenko never called back, and Vierman convinced himself he was imagining things.

13:49But in recent months, he's noticed something amiss with his friend. He's often on the phone, speaking rapidly in Urdu. He once spotted him sealing rolls of film inside an envelope at work. And another time, at this very table, he saw documents that should never have left the brain box at Al Mello. He said nothing. But these parts, he can't ignore them. Abdul, why do you have centrifuge components here in your home? Them. Old pieces, discarded. I like them as souvenirs. Reminders of good work. I wonder what's keeping Henny. Khan gets up to go to the kitchen. but Vierman stops him. It's not the only thing.

14:33Last time I was here, I saw classified documents. My dear friend, I had permission. And he helps me with the translation. What are all these questions? Don't you trust me? And here she is with more food. Here, allow me to serve you. Vierman forces a smile as his plate is filled. He's made the opening move in a game of chicken but it's Kahn who's made him swerve.

15:05It's six months later and in Basel, Switzerland, the Nuclex exhibition is underway. Engineers, salesmen and buyers from across the nuclear industry are here and so are two surveillance officers from the Dutch security service, BVD. One of them hovers near a stand, browsing a brochure of vacuum pumps while watching his target, Dr. A.Q. Khan. He came to the BVD's attention after a Pakistani diplomat tried to order specialist metal foils from a Dutch supplier to the nuclear industry. The specifications led the BVD to Khan. Now he's a person of interest, someone under suspicion, but not formally accused of wrongdoing.

15:52Kahn is at an exhibitor stand, chatting to a sales rep. The BVD officer feigns interest in a display of industrial metals to get with an earshot of Kahn. The steel will need to be strong enough for use in ultra-centrifuge bellows. What strength to weight ratios can you deliver? Depends on the length of the tubes. What kind of RPMs are we talking about here? The BVD officer doesn't understand the details, but knows super-strong steel is needed to stop uranium-enriching centrifuges from breaking apart as they spin. He also knows that Khan doesn't handle procurement at FDO, so there's no reason to be asking suppliers these questions.

16:33If you needed to perform under that level of stress, we'd need precise specifications. But I can arrange a quote for you. Thank you. Perhaps we can arrange a meeting. Do you have a card? Khan takes the salesman's card and then moves on. The BVD officer hangs back for a moment, then follows.

16:58A few days later, The Hague, Netherlands. In a government office, a senior BVD officer is updating representatives from the Foreign Ministry and Economic Affairs Ministry on its investigation into Khan. We believe Dr. Khan may be engaged in espionage. Classified materials have been seen at his home. He displays an unusual level of curiosity well beyond his remit at FTO. And he's had repeated meetings with the welding company salesman already on our radar. At the Basel trade fair, he's sought out suppliers of highly sensitive components. The foreign ministry official interjects, what kind of components?

17:37Ultra-thin metal foil. We've also identified a failed attempt to purchase such foil by a mysterious buyer. The specifications exactly match the foil Khan developed for Yurenko. Then we need to arrest him. The economic affairs representative cuts in. An arrest would tell the world that a spy infiltrated one of our country's most sensitive industrial projects? A scandal like that could be disastrous for the science and technology industry. As would a rogue procurement network. A representative from the foreign ministry turns to the BVD officer. Did you consult the Americans? Yes. And? The CIA would prefer we continue watching Khan.

18:15They believe arresting him now would squander a chance to learn more about Pakistan's nuclear procurement network. So we let him carry on and hope for the best. We could have him promoted to a position where he no longer has access to sensitive information. The economics affairs official nods. I think that's a good solution. tackles the problem without causing reputational harm to industry. The foreign ministry official relents. He just hopes that Khan's not already got what he needs.

18:54Two months later, the village of Sehalla in Pakistan, 16 miles southeast of Islamabad. Outside a concrete warehouse, Khan shakes hands with the caretaker. His Dutch colleagues think Khan's in Pakistan visiting relatives with his wife and daughters. But he's also using the trip to see the progress being made using the equipment and information he's helped Pakistan acquire. The caretaker leads Khan inside the warehouse and turns on the light. This is where everything is stored? Khan looks around in silent disbelief. Dozens of shipping crates are stacked neatly against the walls. Some still have their seals intact.

19:35This is it? Yes, everything is here. Khan walks slowly between the crates. He knows what is inside. He knows what it could become. But he was expecting to see people already building a uranium enrichment plant. Why hasn't assembly begun? We're waiting for further instructions. Khan closes his eyes. He risked everything to give Pakistan all it needs to accelerate its nuclear program. But nothing's moving.

20:20January 1976, Islamabad. It's several days since E.H.U. Khan visited the warehouse. Now he's in the office of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Prime Minister, I visited the warehouse at Sihala. And? Nothing has been done. The equipment is still in shipping crates. Months have been lost. With respect, Prime Minister, the program is being mismanaged. Strong words. I have absolute faith in the director of the atomic program. Sir. He lacks the expertise required. He only has a master's degree. He's treating the nuclear program as a bureaucratic project. It is not. It's the most complex engineering challenge Pakistan has ever attempted.

21:02And one vital to our security. As you are aware, our efforts to build a plutonium reactor are being thwarted by the international community. Which is why I've been saying that uranium enrichment is the answer. We have uranium deposits here in Pakistan. and I can source the equipment needed without detection. The program's director is ignoring the solution that is staring him in the face. You seem very confident. With reason. I have the designs, the supplier lists and the experience. If you let me run this program, we will be enriching uranium to the levels needed for nuclear weapons in five years.

21:39You want me to fire the head of the nuclear program and put you in charge? Why not? I know more than him. But if you don't make use of me, I might as well go back to the Netherlands. I cannot simply sack the head of our nuclear program. But there may be another way. I'm listening. What if we started a separate uranium enrichment program? Headed by you. Two programs chasing the same end goal. I would need adequate funding. You will have it. I will also need total control of the program and its facilities. If you give me that, I will not disappoint. Pakistan will have its own bomb. I give you my word.

22:27September 1976. Kahuta, Pakistan. It's ten months since Prime Minister Bhutto put Khan in charge of Pakistan's secret uranium enrichment program. On getting the job, he immediately sent FDO his letter of resignation and got to work. Now, Khan is hiking the sub-Himalayan foothills. He is less than an hour from Islamabad, but a world away in terms of geography. Here, there are no paved roads, no power lines, and no signs of industry. Just a few goats and shepherds, sheltering in run-down shacks. Khan reaches the top of a ridge, gets out his binoculars, and surveys the area. In the valley below, there must be at least 100 acres of forested land, hidden by hills on all sides.

23:18This is it. Khan has spent weeks looking for somewhere to build his nuclear research laboratory. And Kahuta seems perfect. Close enough to the capital for power and supplies, but far enough to stay hidden.

23:40It's four months later, and in the alpine village of Haag, Switzerland, Kahn is dining at the home of Friedrich Tiner. Tiner's young sons, Marco and Urs, play nearby. Tiner is an engineer and export manager at Vacuum Apparata Technique, a manufacturer of vacuum tubes and valves for centrifuges. And Kahn wants to place an order. and told your company makes the best valves in Europe. We are precise. Reliable. Precision is everything. The flow must be exact. The valves Khan wants to buy are vital for Pakistan's nuclear program. They control the flow of gas into the centrifuges that enrich the uranium.

24:26And Tina is keen to sell. Khan's order is worth tens of thousands of dollars. But that money comes with risk. Khan wants to know if Tinna's willing to accept that risk. What about exporting them? Are you able to ship these valves to us? Tinna lowers his glass. Clearly aware that this deal could violate export controls on nuclear technology. I've been in touch with the Swiss authorities. I believe I've found a way around this. Yes. It is illegal to export centrifuges, but not the individual components used to make them. So exporting our valves is okay. Then we have a deal. As long as it's done discreetly.

25:07I'm a respected man and don't want trouble, but the way I see it, building a pistol doesn't make someone a murderer. Only pulling the trigger does. Khan is used to hearing similar justifications from the other suppliers he works with. They're willing to supply the parts and take the money, but also anxious to absolve themselves from their potential use. Khan smiles at Tina. Don't worry. We don't want to draw attention to this deal either.