The new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released on Monday could hamper US efforts to convince other world powers to agree on a third package of UN sanctions against Iran for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment activities.
Iran says it wants nuclear technology only for civilian purposes, such as electricity generation.
While German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that US intelligence report that concluded Iran has halted its nuclear weapon drive confirms the international community's strategy of negotiations with and putting pressure on Tehran.
The report confirms "the double approach chosen by the international community which foresees at the same time encouragement and the measures of the United Nations Security Council is good," he said in a statement released by his ministry on Monday.
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) "some interesting elements," he added.
Steinmeier was due to discuss the report late on Monday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the ministry statement added.
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), the consensus view of all 16 US spy agencies, said it was unclear whether Iran sought nuclear arms and that halting its still-dormant programme suggested greater susceptibility to global pressure than had been thought.
It also cautioned that the Islamic republic was keeping its nuclear options open, still bucked international demands to freeze uranium enrichment, and that Tehran could have the technical ability to make a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015.
Germany, along with Britain and France, led a diplomatic initiative with Tehran in 2004 and 2005 in which it discussed trade and other economic incentives for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, but the effort fell apart with the election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iranian president. - DDNEWS
