New UN Report on Iran at Odds with Earlier American Intelligence

Recent report by the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) disputes earlier American intelligence reports concluding that Iran halted its efforts to design a nuclear weapon in 2003.

A recent report by experts at The International Atomic Energy Agency [PDF] concluded that Iran has acquired "sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable" nuclear bomb reports The New York Times. In consultation with a wide range of nuclear weapon experts both inside and outside the agency, the report titled "Possible Military Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program" paints a picture of a complex and ongoing program. As the Times points out, the experts stressed in the introduction of its report that the "conclusions are tentative and subject to further confirmation of the evidence" which came from its own investigations along with information gathered from various other intelligence agencies. The UN agency began its investigation of Iran's nuclear program back in 2007 near about the time American intelligence agencies published a report concluding that Iran halted its efforts to design a nuclear weapon in 2003. But in recent months, Britain along with Germany, France and Israel joined in saying the work has been resumed and disputing the American intelligence agencies earlier conclusion. This morning on Meet the Press the US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice touched on the subject briefly saying "There are various assessments and they don't all align" as she moved quickly forward to highlight the Administrations continuing efforts, working with the United Nations to eventually resolve Iran's nuclear issue. Iran announced last week that it would allow inspectors to visit the site as early as this month and still insists the fuel it makes will only be used to produce nuclear power claiming recently unveiled nuclear enrichment site was kept heavily protected to thwart any potential military attacks. American officials say that to get the Country to open all of its suspected nuclear sites and allow international inspectors to investigate will be vital and is stressing that very point in direct negotiations with Iran which began last week. The findings of this new report will no doubt add to the pressure President Obama and other world leaders face in their efforts to persuade Iran to completely open up it's nuclear program for inspection and to comply with all the applicable rules and regulations.