WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- U.S. intelligence services may have to cut their time estimate of when Iran might have a nuclear weapon because of recent developments.
Western nuclear experts told the Financial Times the need to speed up the intelligence time estimate -- previously believed to be five to 10 years -- could add pressure on U.S. President George W. Bush to act against the Islamic republic.
The report said U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte had noted in February that if Iran continued on its current path it would "likely have the capability to produce a nuclear weapon within the next decade."
However, that intelligence may need to be reassessed based on Iran's April announcement that it had "joined the nuclear club," and other evidence, the Times reported.
Iran insists its nuclear program is meant only for electricity production but the United States and the European Union feel its uranium enrichment is intended for nuclear weapons capacity.
