MANAMA, Bahrain, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The Iranian government's rejoicing over the recent report by U.S. intelligence services that the Islamic republic had ceased being a nuclear threat was short-lived.

Addressing a conference on Gulf security in Bahrain over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke of "deep concerns of the U.S. and its allies" over Iran's continued quest for nuclear power.

Contradicting the findings of the National Intelligence Estimate -- or at least what was understood to be released in the NIE findings -- Gates said this week marks a watershed.

"Astonishingly, the revolutionary government of Iran has, for the first time, embraced as valid an assessment of the United States intelligence community -- on Iran's nuclear weapons program. And since that government now acknowledges the quality of American intelligence assessments, I assume that it will also embrace as valid American intelligence assessments of:

-- Its funding and training of militia groups in Iraq;