Iran pursued WMD programmes, says CIA

IRAN "vigorously" pursued programmes to produce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons during the latter part of 2003 and was working to improve delivery systems, a CIA report said yesterday.

Al-Qaida was also engaged in rudimentary nuclear research, the CIA said, and the network's stated willingness to launch an unconventional attack was a major concern.

The unclassified semi-annual report to Congress on the acquisition of technology relating to weapons of mass destruction from July 1 through December 31, 2003, was posted on the intelligence agency's website www.cia.gov. "Iran's nuclear programme received significant assistance in the past from the proliferation network headed by Pakistani scientist AQ Khan," said the report.

Khan's network provided Iran with designs for Pakistan's older centrifuges and for more advanced and efficient models, and components, the report said.

Iran was trying to improve delivery systems and sought foreign materials, training and equipment from Russia, China, North Korea, and Europe, it said.

Last week Iran denied allegations by an exiled opposition group that it obtained weapons-grade uranium and a nuclear bomb design from Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb.

The US believes Iran has been pursuing a secret nuclear weapons programme. "One of our highest concerns is al-Qaida's stated readiness to attempt unconventional attacks against us," the report said. Osama bin Laden and other leaders have said it was al-Qaida's religious duty to acquire nuclear weapons.