U.S. Concerns Iran Nuclear Potential, Says Official

U.S. concerns Iran nuclear potential, says official

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — U.S. intelligence chief John Negroponte said on Thursday that Iran’s effort to acquire a nuclear weapon is an “immediate concern.”

“The danger that it will acquire a nuclear weapon, and the ability to integrate it with the ballistic missiles Iran already possesses is a reason for immediate concern,” Negroponte told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

However, Negroponte noted, “We judge that Tehran probably does not yet have a nuclear weapon and probably has not yet produced or acquired the necessary fissile material.”

Iran always denies U.S. charges. It says its nuclear program is only for peaceful applications such as electricity generation and not for making atomic weapons.