DID IRAN FREEZE NUKE WEAPONS PROGRAM?

US estimate: Iran froze nuclear weapons program in 2003 (JPost)
A new US intelligence report that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, but continues to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, has not lessened Israeli concerns, since enriched uranium can be used both for civilian and military purposes, Israeli government officials said Monday night.

According to the report, Iran halted its nuclear weapons development program in the fall of 2003 under international pressure but is continuing to enrich uranium. That means it may still be able to develop a weapon between 2010 and 2015, senior US intelligence officials said Monday.

That finding, in a new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, is a change from two years ago, when US intelligence agencies believed Teheran was determined to develop a nuclear capability and was continuing its weapons development program. It suggests that Iran is susceptible to diplomatic pressure, the officials said.

"Teheran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005," states the unclassified summary of the secret report, released Monday.

An Israeli government official, who said the US showed Israel the intelligence estimate in advance, said there was enough evidence in it to "factually support our most grave concerns about the Iranian nuclear program."