WASHINGTON – Iran is unlikely to be able to produce enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) for a nuclear weapon until at least 2013, according to a United States government intelligence estimate made public last Thursday.
The US State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) prepared the estimate, which sets a notably later date for Iran’s acquisition of a nuclear capability than other claims that have recently circulated in the media. Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair submitted it in written testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in February.
The publication of the estimate comes at a particularly sensitive time in Washington, as the US debates how best to proceed in dealing with Iran in the wake of June’s disputed election and the Iranian government’s subsequent crackdown on protesters.
