(Thumbnail Image: The New York Times)

A U.N. report confirms what nations like the U.S. had feared—Iran's development of nuclear material is likely intended for weapons.  

Let’s look first at exactly what the independent agency’s report suggests:

“The information available to the [IAEA] … raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.”

A report from China’s CCTV calls the findings a “critical development”, coming on the heels of President Ahmadinejad’s recent announcement Iran enriched uranium to 20 percent purity.

“The report says the next step, purifying from 20 to 90 percent would take just six months. Iran has increased its low-enriched uranium stockpile by more than six times. And the current storage is enough for one or two nuclear bombs if enriched to 90 percent purity.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei rejects the report’s claims, saying nuclear weaponry goes against the Islamic faith.

In Iran's Tehran Times, the country’s Expediency Council takes an even stronger stance.

"[Chairman] Rafsanjani said the West is waging a psychological war against the Islamic Republic and is seeking to build a consensus against the country, but the West’s efforts are doomed to fail.”

Mr. Ahmadinejad's Chief of Staff also claimed the report was fabricated, telling Al Jazeera English Iran is only interested in using nuclear technology for medical reasons.  

“One, having nuclear powers for medical reasons is the right of the Iranian people and the nation.  This fact is not up for debate.  Secondly, trust and relations to working with international partners is equally as important." 

The private international news venture Worldfocus interviews a Washington-based Iran expert—who suggests IAEA’s findings won’t change anything.

“But ultimately, I don’t think this report is going to change the perceptions of officials in Europe or the United States. I think they’ve long believed that Iran is indeed in pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. So I don’t think it changes things dramatically.”

Despite these claims, France, Germany, Russia, the U.S. and others are still expressing concern, leading many to wonder how the international community should respond.

CNN's Fareed Zakaria says he would leave the path of negotiation open--arguing the U.S. is dealing with a new, more logical Iran.  

"Well, it's turning into a pretty classic military dictatorship.  Now that's a terrible thing for the Iranian people, but it does mean these guys are pretty rational, calculating guys who want to stay in power...  That would suggest, frankly, that they are more easily deterrable than a kind of group of mullahs that's subscribing to some jihadist ideology."  

So do you support the IAEA's findings? And how should the international community react?