U.S. intelligence reviews Iran information

Reuters:

The U.S. intelligence community, responding to Bush administration concerns about a nuclear-armed Iran, has begun reviewing its assessments of the Islamic Republic, from weapons capabilities to the stability of Tehran's government, U.S. officials say.

The broad review includes a new National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, intended to provide U.S. policy-makers with a comprehensive profile of Iran's economic, political and military strengths, officials said.

A second report, called a "memo to holders," is aimed at updating information on Iran's weapons of mass destruction, or WMD, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The memo, whose focus is subject to change, would amend a 2001 NIE on Iran."It's a community assessment.

It's an ongoing update and it's going to take several months to do," said one U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ...

The reports are being produced by separate authors without input from Bush administration policy-makers, an official said.

The review was ordered by the CIA's National Intelligence Council, which focuses on longer-term intelligence issues, at a a time when the Bush administration has hardened its rhetoric over Iran. ...