Iran may not have ended efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, despite a US intelligence report that Tehran shelved its atomic arms plans in 2003, a senior British diplomat was quoted as saying Thursday.The diplomat, cited by British newspapers, questioned the US National Intelligence Estimate, which caused surprise last year by saying that Iran's atomic goals had been exaggerated.
"Many of us were surprised by how emphatic the writers of it were. That all the activities stopped in 2003 and had not resumed," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"I haven't seen any intelligence that gives me even medium confidence that these programmes haven't resumed. So we just don't know," he added, cited by the Independent and Guardian dailies.
"I haven't seen any intelligence that gives me even medium confidence that these programmes haven't resumed. So we just don't know," he added, cited by the Independent and Guardian dailies.
The US intelligence report released in December said Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, although it cautioned that the Islamic republic could be able to make a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015.The assessment was seen by some as weakening the justification for military strikes against Iran, although US President George W. Bush refused to rule out an attack and vowed to step up pressure on Tehran despite the report.The British diplomat said the US report "had an impact on the international debate, but I don't think it ever took the military option off the table," adding that the Iranians "continue to pursue a dangerous path.
Iran was searched in 2003 and showed no sign of continuing their missile dovelorment program. Britan still dosn't belive Iran and is not quite done searching Iran. This shows that the U.S. isn't the only country trying to keep Iran from makeing missils.
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