Monday, Dec 3, 2007 16:00 EST
A new report takes the wind out of Iran hawks' sails, suggesting that Iran has ceased work on nuclear weapons and can be negotiated with.
U.S.
intelligence agencies have released a new National Intelligence Estimate assessing the current capabilities and future plans for Iran's
nuclear program. In 2005, a similar assessment concluded that Iran was working toward building a nuclear bomb. Key findings from the new report, however, conclude that -- contrary to the warnings of hawks eager for military action against Iran -- Tehran halted its nuclear program in 2003 due to international pressure. Additionally, the report states that
Iran would be unable to produce enough highly enriched uranium to produce nuclear weapons prior to late 2009, and even that is judged "very unlikely." The "Key Judgments" section of the NIE is below. The full report can be downloaded
here.
