US report suggests Iran halted nuclear weapons programme

The main item of Middle East-related coverage in the UK media today is the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report published yesterday, which suggested Iran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003. BBC Online also notes US Democrats' demand for a re-think on Iran following the latest NIE assessment, and US hawks' frustration at the report. The Financial Times notes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's silence on Iran's nuclear aims. In other stories, the Guardian has an additional opinion piece on Iranian regional ambitions, and notes remarks by author Martin Amis demanding that British Muslims forcefully condemn suicide bombings in Israel. The paper also notes the sentencing in Israel yesterday of the murderer of Minister Rehavam Zeevi. The Times and the Independent note Israel's release of 429 Palestinian security prisoners yesterday. The Times additionally reports on Iran's neighbours' continued fear of its ambition to achieve for regional hegemony. The Financial Times has an additional piece focusing on Saudi Arabia's diplomacy in light of the recent Annapolis summit.

The NIE report on Iran's nuclear weapons programme also dominates coverage in the Israeli media. Haaretz notes that top Israeli leaders were apprised of the content of the report during their recent visit to Washington last week. In other stories, Haaretz notes the killing of three Hamas men in an IAF strike on Gaza yesterday. The Jerusalem Post reports on the ‘three track' approach to be taken in the Israeli-Palestinian process - completion of road Map commitments, development of Palestinian infrastructure and talks on core issues. The paper also notes Israeli hopes of helping the development of the Palestinian economy. Ynetnews reports the drafting of a government protocol on response to emergencies, and quotes Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as accepting that Ben-Gurion's willingness to accept partition was the historically correct approach.

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