U.S. intelligence chief said Thursday that Iran is at least keeping options open to develop nuclear weapons though American intelligence is still not sure about Iran's intention.

"Although we do not know whether Iran currently intends to develop nuclear weapons, we assess Tehran, at a minimum, is keeping open the option to develop them," Dennis Blair, U.S. Director of National Intelligence, said in an annual threat assessment to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

"I can say at this point that Iran is clearly developing all the components of a deliverable nuclear weapons program -- fissionable material, nuclear weaponizing capability and the means to deliver it," he said.

Currently, Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, nor does it have enough fissile material for one, according to Blair's report.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2009)