SANTIAGO, Chile — As he prepares to meet with Iranian officials at an international conference next week in Egypt, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Wednesday that he had seen information suggesting Iran had been studying ways to adapt nuclear weapons for use on missiles.
Speaking to reporters en route to a meeting in Chile, Powell said the information suggested Iran was "interested in nuclear weapons they could deliver ... not just something that sits there."
Powell said that although he could not verify the accuracy of the reports, they were consistent with claims of Iranian dissidents and "should be of concern" to other nations.
Powell, who will leave his government post soon, said the information suggested that the Iranians "were working actively on missile systems. You don't have a weapon until you can put it in something that can deliver a weapon.... We are talking about information that says they not only have missiles but information that suggests they are working hard about how to put the two together."
The Iranian government already has missiles, and U.S. officials believe that it has been trying to enrich uranium for use in nuclear bombs. Once a country acquires nuclear technology, it must find a way to deliver the weapon, whether by missile, aircraft or some other means.
Powell's comments appear to mark the first time U.S. officials have suggested Iran might be developing a way to place nuclear weapons on missiles. According to some estimates, Tehran might be able to complete a nuclear weapon within two years. Its missiles are believed capable of reaching Europe.
The secretary's words were another sign that the Bush administration remained deeply concerned about Iran's intentions even as major European nations believe that they are closing in on a commitment from Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Officials of Britain, France and Germany said this week that they had secured a commitment from Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment program.
In addition, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said this week that inspectors had found no new evidence of concealed nuclear activities or an atomic weapons program in Iran, while cautioning that it could not rule out covert activities.
The United States is skeptical that Tehran will live up to its pledge of halting enrichment.
