LONDON, June 2: Iran appears determined to make nuclear weapons and can develop such an arsenal as early as 2010, US National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said in an interview broadcast on Friday.

As six world powers agreed on a breakthrough package of benefits if Tehran suspends its nuclear fuel work, which has raised fears of weapons development, Mr Negroponte warned the country remained the main state sponsor of terrorism.

“They seem to be determined to develop nuclear weapons,” he told BBC radio.

“We don’t have a clear-cut knowledge but the estimate we have made is some time between the beginning of the next decade and the middle of the next decade they might be in a position to have a nuclear weapon, which is a cause of great concern,” the US spy chief said.

Such a goal was contrary to Iran’s international obligations “and of course Iran is positioned in a very volatile region,” Mr Negroponte said.—AFP