By Charles Hoskinson

IN ITS LONG-AWAITED REPORT, the International Atomic Energy Agency says it “has serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program. After assessing carefully and critically the extensive information available to it, the agency finds the information to be, overall, credible. The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device.” The report released Tuesday is here: http://politi.co/tgsvX9

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS the United States is still studying the report, but France already is seeking a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss new sanctions against Iran amid concerns that Israel might strike. http://bit.ly/vizgQn

MEANWHILE, IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD today rejected the IAEA’s claims as “baseless” and said Iran would not retreat from its nuclear program. http://apne.ws/vIzEFb

OUR TAKE – The IAEA’s report is likely to put to rest doubts about Iran’s intentions that have fueled debate in the United States since 2007, when a National Intelligence Estimate concluded that Tehran had abandoned efforts to build a nuclear bomb. Look for a new urgency to deal with the issue as world leaders take seriously the signals from Israel about a possible attack.
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