Politics
US sees Iran's leaders split on nukes
Updated: 2011-02-17 08:23
(Agencies)
WASHINGTON - American officials say that US intelligence agencies believe Iranian leaders are split over whether to use its nuclear program to develop atomic weapons.
Two officials tell The Associated Press that the United States believes Iran's government is fragmented on the matter and has not yet decided whether to move forward on a nuclear bomb.
That view is included in a new classified assessment of Iran's capabilities and ambitions that national intelligence chief James Clapper says is done. The officials spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity to discuss the findings.
The new National Intelligence Estimate replaces a controversial 2007 version that concluded Iran had abandoned or suspended an attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
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