Iranian officials in recent weeks have been stating publicly that the United States is preparing to launch a war on Iran over its refusal to give up its illegal uranium enrichment program, which Tehran claims is for peaceful purposes.
Hardline Assembly of Experts Chairman Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani said in a speech Dec. 21 that the NIE was favorable to Iran "to some extent” and earlier indicated that the U.S. report and a International Atomic Energy Agency report of Nov. 15 had reduce the likelihood of U.S. military action and sanctions.
Prior to the NIE, Rafsanjani had warned that U.S. troops "were positioned everywhere" and that Iran faced "serious" danger.
“The enemy's movements in the region are unprecedented, I warn (officials) to be vigilant ... They should not put people through trouble by uncalculated and immature statements,” he said.
The NIE stated that Iran had a nuclear arms program that was halted in 2003, in what critics said was an intelligence estimate designed by anti-Bush officials aimed at preventing any use of military force against Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear negotiator arrived in China for talks with Chinese leaders that government sources said was likely an effort by Tehran to lobby Beijing against imposing sanctions.
Saeed Jalili met Chinese officials last week to discuss the nuclear issue.
China has refused to go along with U.S.-led efforts at the United Nations to impose sanctions on Iran for failing to abide by international controls on its uranium enrichment program.
China is vulnerable to pressure from Iran because of its need of Iranian oil. Jalili probably threatened to reduce or cut off oil shipments to China if Beijing agrees to new sanctions.
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