US News
Intel chief lists al-Qaeda, Iran, North Korea as threats to US
By DPA
Feb 2, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - Al-Qaeda remains the gravest threat to US security, followed by Iran and North Korea's nuclear programmes, the chief of US intelligence said Thursday.

'Al-Qaeda remains our top concern,' John Negroponte said in Senate testimony.

'The organizations's core elements still plot and make preparations for terrorist strikes against the homeland and other targets from bases in Pakistan-Afghanistan border area,' he said.

Negroponte also warned that al-Qaeda had 'gained added reach' by merging with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's network in Iraq.

Nuclear weapons proliferation also remains a serious threat, Negroponte said, pointing to Iran and North Korea.

North Korea announced about a year ago that it had a nuclear weapon, and Negroponte warned that Iran could have one within 10 years.

'The threat of proliferation and the threats posed by Iran and North Korea really go hand-in-hand,' he said.

Negroponte's remarks come as the UN International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board meets in Vienna to consider a US-EU request to drag Iran before the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme.

Iran says its nuclear activities are solely for producing electricity, but Washington says Iran is using the programme to pursue weapons.