UN report: Iran already has data for atom bomb construction

A United Nations report goes further than U.S. conclusions on Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities, saying Iran already has the detailed knowledge to design and produce a nuclear bomb.

There appears to be no easy breathing on Iran's nuclear ambitions. While United Nations officials believe there has been a "shifting of gears" with regard to Iranian nuclear talks and proceedings, a report drafted by experts in the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded that Iran has all of the knowledge necessary to design and produce a nuclear bomb. While the report is considered tentative, it was built from information gathered by intelligence agencies and from other primary IAEA resources. The study's conclusions go further than those publicly addressed by even the most concerned countries - including the United States. International inspectors plan to visit Iran's newly disclosed underground nuclear enrichment plant on October 25, as the IAEA has said it has "concerns about Iran's future intentions." The report additionally found that Iran has been conducting extensive research into the specific design components of a weapon. These designs have also undergone significant testing by Iranian researchers. "I hope and trust Iran will be helpful with our inspectors so it is possible for us to be able to assess our verification of the facility as early as possible," International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei said on Sunday. "We need transparency on the part of Iran and we need cooperation on the part of the international community."