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US Democrats want rethink on Iran US Democrats want rethink on Iran
(about 5 hours later)
The Democrats in the United States have called for a rethink of policy on Iran.The Democrats in the United States have called for a rethink of policy on Iran.
It comes after a major new intelligence assessment suggested the government in Tehran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons at present. The call comes after a major new intelligence assessment suggested the government in Tehran is not trying to develop nuclear weapons at present.
The latest National Intelligence Estimate says it is now believed Iran stopped its weapons programme in 2003.The latest National Intelligence Estimate says it is now believed Iran stopped its weapons programme in 2003.
But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said it was vital to continue US-led efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Earlier his Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, cast doubt on the report's findings, saying that while Iran might have stopped its suspected weapons programme it had probably restarted it again.
Reports of this kind were "made in an environment of high uncertainty", he added.
Reagan comparison
The Democrat leader of the US Senate, Harry Reid, said he hoped the White House would undertake "a diplomatic surge" to engage with Iran.The Democrat leader of the US Senate, Harry Reid, said he hoped the White House would undertake "a diplomatic surge" to engage with Iran.
Stephen Hadley said Bush's strategy was right
"I hope this administration reads this report carefully and appropriately adjusts its rhetoric and policy vis-a-vis Iran," said Mr Reid."I hope this administration reads this report carefully and appropriately adjusts its rhetoric and policy vis-a-vis Iran," said Mr Reid.
He added that the Bush administration should emulate former President Ronald Reagan's engagement with the Soviet Union.He added that the Bush administration should emulate former President Ronald Reagan's engagement with the Soviet Union.
Stephen Hadley said Bush's strategy was right
The BBC Washington correspondent Justin Webb says the Democrat response is a sign of the pivotal importance the new intelligence assessment might turn out to have.The BBC Washington correspondent Justin Webb says the Democrat response is a sign of the pivotal importance the new intelligence assessment might turn out to have.
But, our correspondent adds, Washington's Iran hawks are horrified.But, our correspondent adds, Washington's Iran hawks are horrified.
Can you legitimately defend yourself against something that does not exist and might never exist? BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full
In particular they are concerned that news of that key assessment will drown out other findings in the document - for instance, that Tehran is keeping open its option to develop a nuclear weapon and would have all the capacity to do so in the future if its leaders decided to go ahead.In particular they are concerned that news of that key assessment will drown out other findings in the document - for instance, that Tehran is keeping open its option to develop a nuclear weapon and would have all the capacity to do so in the future if its leaders decided to go ahead.
A senior advisor to President Bush said the report was "positive" but the risk of a nuclear Iran remained "serious". A senior adviser to President Bush said the report was "positive" but the risk of a nuclear Iran remained "serious".
"It seems Iran in 2003 halted for a certain period of time its military nuclear programme but as far as we know it has probably since renewed it," he told Israeli radio.
Iran is currently under sanctions from both the UN Security Council, which is demanding the end of uranium enrichment, and unilateral US sanctions.Iran is currently under sanctions from both the UN Security Council, which is demanding the end of uranium enrichment, and unilateral US sanctions.
'Technical problems''Technical problems'
The declassified summary of the report, which draws together information from the US's 16 intelligence agencies, says with "high confidence" that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons programme in 2003 "in response to international pressure".The declassified summary of the report, which draws together information from the US's 16 intelligence agencies, says with "high confidence" that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons programme in 2003 "in response to international pressure".
Report frustrates US hawksReport frustrates US hawks
The assessment says with "moderate confidence" that the programme has not restarted.The assessment says with "moderate confidence" that the programme has not restarted.
This is a turnaround from previous assessments, when US intelligence agencies believed Iran was trying to develop a nuclear weapon.This is a turnaround from previous assessments, when US intelligence agencies believed Iran was trying to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran made "significant progress" in 2007 installing gas centrifuges used to enrich uranium - a process necessary for producing the fissile nuclear material needed to build a nuclear bomb, the report says.Iran made "significant progress" in 2007 installing gas centrifuges used to enrich uranium - a process necessary for producing the fissile nuclear material needed to build a nuclear bomb, the report says.
But the report's authors judge with "moderate confidence" that Iran "still faces significant technical problems" operating the new equipment.But the report's authors judge with "moderate confidence" that Iran "still faces significant technical problems" operating the new equipment.
And they conclude that the country is not likely to have enough highly enriched uranium to build a bomb until 2010-2015.And they conclude that the country is not likely to have enough highly enriched uranium to build a bomb until 2010-2015.
'Right strategy''Right strategy'
US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said the report's findings confirmed the US was "right to be worried" about Iran's nuclear ambitions and that President George W Bush had "the right strategy".US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said the report's findings confirmed the US was "right to be worried" about Iran's nuclear ambitions and that President George W Bush had "the right strategy".
READ THE FINDINGS National Intelligence Estimate on Iran[25kb] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE FINDINGS National Intelligence Estimate on Iran[25kb] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
The international community should "turn up the pressure on Iran" using diplomatic isolation, UN sanctions and other financial leverage, he said.The international community should "turn up the pressure on Iran" using diplomatic isolation, UN sanctions and other financial leverage, he said.
The BBC News website's world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says the report is cautious in its assessment of Iran's nuclear activities and provides little evidence for those who would like an early military attack.The BBC News website's world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says the report is cautious in its assessment of Iran's nuclear activities and provides little evidence for those who would like an early military attack.
He says it will strengthen the hand of those who want further sanctions since it states that past pressure has worked.He says it will strengthen the hand of those who want further sanctions since it states that past pressure has worked.