Argument

Iran is building nuclear weapons
Iran is working on a military nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons. >>

Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons: Iranian leaders
Iran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons -- According to public statements by Iranian leaders >>

The government of Iran is not a credible source regarding its nuclear program >>

“Ahmadinejad claims his country’s nuclear activities are peaceful. Ultimately, we do not believe him. Everyone knows that the program has military goals. We have a string of clues leading us to that conclusion. The question is not settled.” -- David Martinon, spokesman of Nicolas Sarkozy, at a press conference >>

Iran has resumed work on sophisticated uranium enrichment technology
Iran has resumed work on constructing highly sophisticated equipment that nuclear experts say is primarily used for building atomic weapons. -- According to the latest intelligence reports received by Western diplomats. >>

P2 gas centrifuge can enrich uranium to weapons grade two to three times faster than conventional P1 centrifuges. >>

Iran restarted its nuclear weapons program in 2004: NCRI
Iran restarted its nuclear weapons program in 2004, dispersing equipment to thwart international inspectors. -- According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group >>

Iran has conducted successful experiments on a crucial triggering mechanism for nuclear weapon: NCRI
Iran was close to producing the 'neutron initiators' that spark the chain reaction in a bomb. "Tehran has already succeeded in using beryllium in conjunction with polonium-210 for large scale laboratory testing purposes, and it is getting very close to the point of industrial production." "Tehran currently has enough beryllium to produce initiators for a dozen nuclear bombs." -- Mohammad Mohaddessin, NCRI, at a news conference in Paris, France >>

Iran would have the bomb in two or three years time
At a European Parliament conference Mohammad Mohaddessin, chair of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian opposition group, alleges that the "Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is determined to pursue and complete Tehran's nuclear weapons program full blast...[and] would have the bomb in two or three years time." --"Mullah's Leader Determined to Complete Tehran's Nuclear Weapons Program - Mohaddessin," National Council of Resistance of Iran, 11 November 2005. >>

Iran smuggled centrifuges from China and is ready to start nuclear uranium enrichment:NCRI
Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) member Ali Safavi alleges that Tehran has been smuggling centrifuges from China for the past two years and is ready to start a nuclear uranium enrichment program. "The first phase involves the manufacture of 5,000 machines. Some two-thirds have been manufactured, tested and ready to be installed," Mr. Safavi adds. --"Iranian Opposition Group says Iran Building Centrifuges to Extract," National Council of Resistance of Iran, 13 September 2005. >>

Iran's military in control of country's nuclear program: NCRI
According to allegations made by the Iranian opposition group, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad places the military in control of the country's nuclear program. Commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also take charge of the National Security Council's internal security, strategy and political posts. --David Sands, "Army Takes Control of Iran Nukes," Washington Times, 5 October 2005. >>

Iranian Resistance Warns of Mullahs' Efforts to Acquire Nuclear Bombs
Mohammad Mohaddessin, chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an Iranian opposition group, warns that Iran's mullahs have made progress in their pursuit of a nuclear bomb and adds that terrorist and fundamentalist activities will continue. --"Iranian Resistance Warns of Mullahs' Efforts to Acquire Nuclear Bombs," National Council of Resistance of Iran, 18 July 2005. >>

Iran is constructing a new site for a secret military project 5 km south of the Natanz nuclear complex. -- Mehdi Abrishamchi, chairman of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), at press conference in France >>

Iran is not making highly enriched uranium suitable for a weapon: IAEA
Iran is not making highly enriched uranium suitable for a weapon, only low-enriched uranium useable as nuclear power fuel. "The results of the environmental samples... indicate that the [enrichment] plants have been operated as declared. The samples show low-enriched uranium... particles." -- IAEA, the 26 May 2008 report, released on 5 June 2008 >>

"We have information that there has been maybe some studies about possible weaponization." [...] "That's why we have said that we cannot give Iran a pass right now, because there is still a lot of question marks." [ ... ] "But have we seen Iran having the nuclear material that can readily be used into a weapon? No. Have we seen an active weaponization program? No." -- Mohamed ElBaradei, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), speaking at CNN's "Late Edition" >>

The intelligence that the West currently has on Iran’s nuclear program is limited to sites accessible to IAEA inspectors – and more than that they do not know.” -- Kayhan, a local newspaper in Iran >>

Russia has seen no evidence of any nuclear weapons program in Iran: Lavrov
Russia, a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security Council, said Wednesday there was no proof that Iran has ever run a nuclear weapons program. "We will assess the situation regarding a new U.N. Security Council resolution taking into account all these facts, including the U.S. confirmation that it has no information about the existence of a nuclear weapons program in Iran." -- Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, told reporters. >>

In fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program: NIE ...
In fall 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program and such activity had not restarted as of mid-2007. -- According to USA National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) >>

Iran shut down its nuclear weapons program in 2003. -- According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group >>

A clandestine attempt by Iran to develop P2 centrifuges was halted in 2004 after the existence of a civilian company set up by the Revolutionary Guard was exposed. UN nuclear inspectors found traces of weapons-grade uranium at the company when they inspected the premises. >>

The Dec. 2007 NIE is not accurate
The Dec. 2007 NIE provides a misleading picture of Iran's nuclear effort >>

The Dec. 2007 NIE report's definition of 'Iran's nuclear weapons program' excludes "Iran's declared civil work related to uranium conversion and enrichment." >>

"Iran probably would be technically capable of producing enough HEU for a weapon sometime during the 2010-2015 time frame." -- USA NIE >>

Iran could have the raw material for a nuclear bomb by fall 2008 >>

Nuclear materiel generated as a result of Iran's civilian nuclear development, if enriched to a high enough level, can be used for military purposes. >>

Iran could be operating as many as 3,000 centrifuges: France's officials
Iran could begin operating as many as 3,000 centrifuges by the end of Oct. 2007. -- Assessment by France's officials, based on France's interpretation of International Atomic Energy Agency findings >>

Having 3,000 functioning centrifuges in operation represents a critical milestone
Having 3000 centrifuges operating continuously for a year can generate enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) for one nuclear weapon. -- According to nuclear scientists >>

Nuclear weapons, nuclear material, and knowhow can be bought abroad >>

There is a nuclear black market in the former Soviet Union >>

Abdul Qadeer Khan, sold atomic weapons blueprint to Iran. >>

Khan Research Laboratories [the facilities of Abdul Qadeer Khan] is an (illegal) seller of nuclear technology and knowhow >>

Abdul Qadeer Khan was sacked from his position as special science and technology adviser to President Pervez Musharraf unceremoniously during the investigation regarding transferring nuclear technology to Iran and Libya. >>

The Dec. 2007 NIE is not reliable >>

Over the past half-century, U.S. agencies have consistently failed to foresee significant nuclear events in any foreign nation. They famously missed the nuclearization of the Soviet Union in 1949, and that of China in 1964. India and Pakistan's tit-for-tat nuclear exchanges in 1998 similarly caught them by surprise. More recently, so did North Korea's abrupt nuclear breakout in 2002. >>