The United States still believes that Iran has not decided to build a nuclear weapon despite Tehran's recent strategic setbacks, including Israel's killing of Hezbollah leaders and two largely unsuccessful attempts to attack Israel, two US officials told Reuters.
The comments from a senior Biden administration official and a spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) added to public remarks earlier this week by Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns, who said the United States had not seen any evidence Iran's leader had reversed his 2003 decision to suspend the weaponisation programme.
“We assess that the Supreme Leader has not made a decision to resume the nuclear weapons programme that Iran suspended in 2003,” said the ODNI spokesperson, referring to Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The intelligence assessment could help explain US opposition to any Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear programme in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack that Tehran carried out last week.
US President Joe Biden said after that attack he would not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, but did not explain why he had reached that conclusion.
US officials have long acknowledged that an attempt to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons programme might only delay the country's efforts to develop a nuclear bomb and could even strengthen Tehran's resolve to do so.
This story is from the October 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 12, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Team Singapore athletes at Paris Games honoured in Parliament
Olympians and Paralympians 'fought hard in the toughest of arenas', says minister
NTUC central committee unaware of capital reduction plan: Desmond Tan
The labour movement's central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
MPs raise concerns over info sharing, investor confidence
16 MPs speak for four hours on Bill to halt Allianz's planned offer for Income Insurance
New in Oct BTO launch: 'White flats', additional subsidies
The Oct 16 Build-To-Order (BTO) launch will feature several changes that will affect home buyers, including a new way of classifying flats, more options for singles and new open-concept \"white flats\".
Talent, tourists, new hubs: John Lee lays out ambitious HK revival plan
Given the myriad priority areas, analysts wonder if his economic measures lack focus
Prime, Plus flats launched with 6% to 9% subsidy clawback clause
They are among 8,573 homes offered for sale under new flat classification system
Parliament passes Bill enabling Govt to block Allianz-Income deal
The minister in charge of Singapore's financial regulator will have powers to block deals involving insurers that are run or substantially owned by cooperatives after Parliament passed new laws on Oct 16.
K-pop boy band Riize's Seunghan leaves two days after return
SEOUL - Just two days after announcing that he was rejoining K-pop boy band Riize, South Korean singer Seunghan (right) said on Oct 14 that he is leaving the group.
Stefanie Sun's concert tour kicks off in 2025
The decade-long wait for fans of Stefanie Sun will be over soon.
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer hailed as bright talent of his generation
Theatre actor Shahid Nasheer died on the evening of Oct 14 at Gleneagles Hospital, following complications while being treated for leukaemia. He was 28.
