Iran on Tuesday welcomed a U.S. intelligence report that contradicted assertions by the Bush administration that Tehran was planning to produce an atomic bomb and said it was becoming clear Iran's plans were peaceful.
The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report released on Monday indicated Iran had put its bid to build a nuclear bomb on hold in 2003. The U.S. assessment says Iran continues to enrich uranium, and could still manufacture a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015. "Tehran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005," said the report.
Tehran insists it has never had plans to build atomic weapons.
Asked about the U.S. report, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told state radio: "It's natural that we welcome it when those countries who in the past have questions and ambiguities about this case ... now amend their views realistically."
"The condition of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities is becoming clear to the world."
Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister said Tuesday Israeli intelligence believes Iran is still trying to develop a nuclear weapon, disputing the U.S. intelligence assessment. "It's apparently true that in 2003 Iran stopped pursuing its military nuclear program for a time. But in our opinion, since then it has apparently continued that program," Ehud Barak told Israel's Army Radio.
Regarding the new American assessment, Barak said: "We are familiar with this American assessment." "There are differences in the assessments of different organizations in the world about this, and only time will tell who is right," he added.
Asked if the new U.S. assessment reduced chances that the U.S. will launch a military strike on Iran, Barak said that was "possible." However, he said, "We cannot allow ourselves to rest just because of an intelligence report from the other side of the earth, even if it is from our greatest friend."
