CIA chief Leon Panetta said Sunday he thinks Iran has enough low-enriched uranium to make two weapons, and that it would take at least two years to prepare the bombs and a delivery system.
“We think they have enough low-enriched uranium for two weapons,” he said. “(But it will take) another year to develop the kind of weapon delivery system in order to make that viable.”
Iran’s atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that Tehran has produced more than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of 20 percent enriched uranium, a sensitive atomic work that world powers want abandoned.
In the same interview on America’s ABC’s This Week Panetta discussed the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, describing it as “harder, slower than anyone anticipated” but adding that America was on the right track.
“Is the strategy the right strategy? We think so,” he said. “I think we’re going to be able achieve the kind of progress and the kind of stability that the president is after.”
Mr Panetta said the key to success would be Afghanistan accepting responsibility and maintaining stability with an army and police force.
When asked by host Jake Tapper how many Taliban were in Afghanistan, the CIA head said there was a “relatively small” number of only 50 to 100.
“There’s no question that the main location of al Qaeda is in the tribal areas of Pakistan,” he said.
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