InvestorsHub Logo
Boards
News
Market Data
Markets
Discover
Discover
Subscribe Login/Register
S&P 500
5,460.48
(
-0.41%
)
US TECH 100
19,181.60
(
-0.43%
)
Dow Jones
39,118.86
(
-0.12%
)
Brent Oil
84.85
(
0.00%
)
Bitcoin
61,432.68
(
0.89%
)
Post# of 481987
Next 10
Reply Private New
Public Reply Private Reply New Post
Keep Last Read
Replies (5) Keep Next 10 Report Keyboard Shortcuts
Replies (5) Next 10 Prev Next

bagwa-john

Send PM Follow Ignore
Followers 49
Posts 7504
Boards Moderated 2
Alias Born 09/28/2005

bagwa-john

Re: None

Monday, 12/03/2007 1:23:22 PM

Monday, December 03, 2007 1:23:22 PM

Post# of 481987
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/03/iran.nuclear/index.html


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iran halted work toward a nuclear weapon under international scrutiny in 2003 and is unlikely to be able to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until 2010 to 2015, a U.S. intelligence report says.


Satellite image shows Iranian nuclear facilities.

A declassified summary of the latest National Intelligence Estimate found with "high confidence" that the Islamic republic halted an effort to develop nuclear weapons in the fall of 2003.

The estimate is less severe than a 2005 report that judged the Iranian leadership was "determined to develop nuclear weapons despite its international obligations and international pressure."

But it says Iran -- which declared its ability to produced enriched uranium for a civilian energy program in 2006 -- could reverse that decision and eventually produce a nuclear weapon if it wanted to.

Enriched uranium at low concentrations can be used to fuel nuclear power plants, but much higher concentrations are needed to yield a nuclear explosion.

"We judge with moderate confidence that the earliest possible date Iran would be technically capable of producing enough highly enriched uranium for a weapon is late 2009, but that this is very unlikely," the report states. A more likely time frame for that production is between 2010 and 2015, it concluded.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is strictly aimed at producing electricity, and it has refused the U.N. security council's demand that it halt its enrichment program.

U.S. National Security Adviser Iran expressed hope after the announcement, but he said Iran remains a serious threat.

Don't Miss
Read National Intelligence Estimate summary (PDF) (PDF)
"The estimate offers grounds for hope that the problem can be solved diplomatically -- without the use of force -- as the administration has been trying to do," Hadley said in a statement.

"But the intelligence also tells us that the risk of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon remains a very serious problem," Hadley's statement said.

NIEs examine current capabilities and vulnerabilities and, perhaps more importantly, consider future developments. Estimates are usually requested by policymakers, but can be initiated by the intelligence community itself. E-mail to a friend

All About Nuclear Weapons • Stephen Hadley • Iran

Public Reply Private Reply New Post
Keep Last Read
Replies (5) Keep Last Read Next 10 Report Keyboard Shortcuts
Replies (5) Next 10 Prev Next

Join the InvestorsHub Community

Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.

Sign Up