Iran's nuclear program has encountered several key obstacles that could result in delays of up to a decade in Teheran's drive for indigenous weapons capability.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said in a report that Iran has failed to complete key elements of the nuclear fuel cycle required for indigenous weapons production. The institute, in a report entitled "Iran's Strategic Weapons Programmes -- A Net Assessment," said Iran could require between five and 10 years to acquire capabilities in the areas of uranium conversion and enrichment.

"Our assessment is technical," Gary Samore, editor of the report, said.

The report said Iran must produce either 20-25 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium or 6-8 kilograms of separated plutonium for a single nuclear weapon. IISS said Iran did not have the facilities to achieve this within the next five years.
 
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