A report by the International Atomic Engery Agency (IAEA) saying Iran has worked on the design and trigger of a nuclear device, has put Tehran on the defensive.
The findings, released Tuesday from the agency's headquarters in Austria, brought an immediate response from the Iranian ambassador.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) IRAN'S AMBASSADOR TO IAEA, ALI ASGHAR SOLTANIEH, SAYING:
"Have the agency found any smoking gun? Therefore it seems that we are seeing the same scenario of the Bush administration but performed by the director general of the IAEA. This is a very dangerous game. I call the international community and all the peace loving people of the world to prevent such a thing and to stop this process which is a very dangerous game in fact."
The report details the strongest claims to date, that the country is making concerted efforts to acquire the capability to make atomic bombs.
Although the IAEA credits "reliable sources" for its information, credibility is still an issue-- especially after flawed intelligence on Iraq's nuclear programs led to the U.S. invasion in 2003.
The U.S. reiterated calls for Iran to open its nuclear facilities to international inspectors, but stopped short of calling for increased sanctions, saying more time is needed to digest the report.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN VICTORIA NULAND, IN AN EXCHANGE WITH REPORTERS, SAYING:
REPORTER: Can I ask you, based on this report, whether you are preparing for more sanctions. I know that you are just taking a first glance at it, but does that follow that the two are linked?"
NULAND: "Again, we have just received the report. We are going to study it. We are not prepared to speak about any next steps at this point."
The U.S. said the IAEA Board of Governors will discuss the findings during a meeting next week.
Julie Noce, Reuters