AFGHANISTAN: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the opportunity for Iran to resume its nuclear weapons programme "is always present"

The U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the international community must continue to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear ambitions. During a visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday (December 4) Gates said a report from the International Intelligence Estimate (NIE) suggested that Iran's nuclear weapons programme was suspended in 2003 largely due to international scrutiny and pressure but that they keep their options open. "And as long as they continue with their enrichment activities then the opportunity to resume that nuclear weapons programme is always present" he said. Gates was in Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He said there was a need for the international community to join the United States in bringing pressure to bear on Iran to ensure that what was apparently a suspension in 2003 becomes the policy of the Iranian government and that they comply with international requirements over its enrichment programme. As far as the situation in Afghanistan was concerned Gates said there were proposals before congress for additional assistance in training and equipment for the Afghan National Army and it was hoped those resources would be made available as soon as possible. A Taliban suicide bomber rammed a car into a NATO convoy near Kabul airport during the visit by Gates. No casualties were reported among NATO troops but 22 Afghan civilians were hurt. Tuesday's blast reflected rising violence over the past two years in Afghanistan, the bloodiest period since the Taliban's removal from power in 2001. The United States has 26,000 troops in Afghanistan. About half are involved in NATO operations and half on other missions.

ITN Source | December 5, 2007

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