Iran has sufficient data to produce an atom bomb: IAEA report

New York, Oct 4 (ANI): Iran has acquired sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable atom bomb, according to a confidential analysis by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The report, titled "Possible Military Dimensions of Iran's Nuclear Program," was produced in consultation with a range of nuclear weapons experts inside and outside the IAEA.

The report by IAEA experts' stresses in its introduction that its conclusions are tentative and subject to further confirmation of the evidence, which it says came from intelligence agencies and its own investigations. ut the report's conclusions, described by senior European officials, go well beyond the public positions taken by several governments, including the United States, The New York Times quoted the report, as saying.

Two years ago, American intelligence agencies published a detailed report concluding that Tehran halted its efforts to design a nuclear weapon in 2003. But in recent months, Britain has joined France, Germany and Israel in disputing that conclusion, saying the work has been resumed, the NYT reports.

The atomic agency's report also presents evidence that beyond improving upon bomb-making information gathered from rogue nuclear experts around the world, Iran has done extensive research and testing on how to fashion the components of a weapon.

It draws a picture of a complex program, run by Iran's Ministry of Defense, "aimed at the development of a nuclear payload to be delivered using the Shahab 3 missile system".

The program, according to the report, apparently began in early 2002. (ANI)