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'Iran put nukes on hold'
03/12/2007 22:34 - (SA)
Washington - A new US intelligence
report says Iran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003 and
it remains on hold, contradicting the Bush administration's
earlier assertion that Tehran was intent on developing a bomb.
The new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released on
Monday could hamper US efforts to convince other world powers
to agree on a third package of UN sanctions against Iran for
defying demands to halt uranium enrichment activities.
Iran says it wants nuclear technology only for civilian
purposes, such as electricity generation.
Tensions have escalated in recent months as Washington has
ratcheted up the rhetoric against Tehran, with US President
George W Bush insisting in October that a nuclear-armed Iran
could lead to World War Three. Sharp contrast to earlier report
But in a finding likely to surprise US friends and foes
alike, the latest NIE concluded: "We do not know whether (Iran)
currently intends to develop nuclear weapons."
That marked a sharp contrast to an intelligence report two
years ago that stated Iran was "determined to develop nuclear
weapons".
But the new assessment found Iran was continuing to develop
technical capabilities that could be used to build a bomb and
that it would likely be capable of producing enough highly
enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon "sometime during the
2010-2015 time-frame".
Iran has already been hit with two rounds of UN sanctions
over its defiance. Washington, which insists it wants to solve
the problem diplomatically while leaving military options open,
is pushing for a third package.
The nuclear standoff has become a major issue of debate in
the 2008 US presidential campaign, with candidates from both
major parties weighing in on the prospects for military action
against Iran.
- Reuters
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