US thinks Iranian nuclear research paving easier path to bomb — reports

American spies believe Iran is better positioned to restart its nuclear weapons program thanks to research activities it has conducted, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the report, the US intelligence community does not think that Iran has yet made a decision to break out for a bomb, but its path to one could be eased should it decide to pull the trigger.

In a report to Congress last month, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warned that Iran has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so,” the Journal reports.

While officials do not think the research will shorten the time needed to breakout to a bomb, it “could shrink the knowledge gap Tehran faces in mastering the ability to build a weapon,” a US official is quoted saying. The Journal notes that in the past, study of such topics would have led US analysts to conclude that a bomb was being pursued, though not in this case.

The assessment also notes that the topic of nuclear weapons has become less taboo in Iranian society, according to the report.