'US believes Iran not trying to build nuclear bomb'

LA Times report claims 16 US intelligence agencies agree that while Iran is pursuing nuclear research it has not sought to build weapon, strengthening disagreement with Israel over military strike

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4194307,00.html

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"As the US and Israel prepare for the Obama-Netanyahu summit it appears that Washington is trying to make it very clear: Tehran is not currently seeking to build a nuclear bomb. Or at least, that is what a classified intelligence document mentioned in an LA Times report states.

A highly classified US intelligence assessment circulated among policymakers early last year largely affirms the view, originally made in 2007. Both reports, known as national intelligence estimates, conclude that Iran halted efforts to develop and build a nuclear warhead in 2003.

The LA Times goes on to claim that the most recent report, which represents the consensus of 16 US intelligence agencies, indicates that Iran is pursuing research that could put it in a position to build a weapon, but that it has not sought to do so.

And while Iran continues to enrich uranium at low levels, US officials say they have not seen evidence that has caused them to significantly revise that judgment.

Senior US officials say Israel does not dispute the basic intelligence or analysis."