UN Nuclear Agency Said It Is Worried Iran Is Currently Working On Making A Nuclear Warhead

The AP reports that the "U.N. nuclear agency on Thursday said it was worried Iran may currently be working on making a nuclear warhead, suggesting for the first time that Tehran had either resumed such work or never stopped at the time U.S. intelligence thought it did. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency appeared to put the U.N. nuclear monitor on the side of Germany, France, Britain and Israel. These nations and other U.S. allies have disputed the conclusions of a U.S. intelligence assessment published three years ago that said Tehran appeared to have suspended such work in 2003."

ABC News reports that senior "officials from the Obama administration called a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program 'disturbing,' and suggested Iran's leaders are more determined than ever to pursue a nuclear weapon... The report states in relatively stark terms that 'outstanding issues' that remain unresolved raise 'concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile. These alleged activities consist of a number of projects and sub-projects, covering nuclear and missile related aspects, run by military related organizations.' This is the first time the IAEA has referred to possible “ongoing activities” related to nuclear weaponization, a senior administration official observed."

"The fact that they have increased the level of non-cooperation indicated to me that unless we can mount the international pressure to stop it, that this program is heading more and more in the direction of seeking a weapons capability," a senior administration official. "The pattern of behaviors is one that I think is very disturbing.”

“There is less and less credibility to the Iranian statement that their program is peaceful and much stronger international recognition that we are facing a country that is seeking a nuclear weapons capability," the official said. Tweet