Israel seeks input on U.S. Iran report

The United States is preparing a new intelligence report on Iran's nuclear program, which is to be published in November. The Americans now believe Iran is trying to produce a nuclear weapon, says an Israeli government source, contrary to their recent intelligence assessment that Iran had halted its military nuclear effort in 2003.

Israel is trying to alert the American intelligence community to Iran's nuclear ability and to have an impact on the report's contents.

Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi visited Washington this week and met with Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and other top officials.

Israeli officials have doubts about their ability to affect the report's contents because the present administration is approaching the end of its term. "In this situation the civil service in the American security establishment gains even greater strength," the source said. "They check every information we give them extra carefully."

Israel is interested in learning about any change in the American administration's attitude toward Iran following talks between American and Iranian officials and reports on the U.S.'s intentions to open an interests' section in Tehran.