CIA chief warns Iran could have nukes by 2012

Iran has enough low-enriched uranium to make two weapons, which it could have prepared and ready for delivery as early as 2012, CIA director Leon Panetta warned yesterday.

"We think they have enough low-enriched uranium for two weapons," Mr Panetta told the ABC network's This Week programme.

Tehran would need a year to enrich it fully to produce a bomb and it would take "another year to develop the kind of weapon delivery system in order to make that viable," he said.

Iran is under mounting inter-national pressure over its suspect nuclear programme, which the West fears masks a covert weapons drive. The Islamic republic vehemently denies the charge, but has been flexing its military muscle mainly in the strategic Gulf region by staging regular war games and showcasing an array of Iran-manufactured missiles.

"There is a continuing debate right now about whether or not they ought to proceed with a bomb. But they clearly are developing their nuclear capability and that raises concerns," Panetta said. "Just exactly what are their intentions?"

Neither the United States nor its top regional ally Israel, the sole if undeclared nuclear-armed power in the Middle East, have ruled out a military strike to curb Iran's atomic drive.

"Israel is very concerned about what's happening in Iran," Mr Panetta noted.

"We continue to share intelligence (with Israel) as to what exactly is Iran's capacity," Mr Panetta told ABC, but added that Israel is "willing to give us the room to be able to try to change Iran diplomatically and culturally and politically".

Tel Aviv, he said, feels "more strongly that Iran has already made the decision to proceed with the bomb, but at the same time they know that sanctions will have an impact."

The US Congress this week endorsed a sweeping package of tough new energy and financial sanctions on Tehran over the programme, and on June 10 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1929, which imposes military and financial sanctions on Iran aiming to rein in the suspect nuclear drive.