Is it true that Iran had given up its nuclear program in 2003?

I was just talking to a business associate who is an American and he commented that the intelligence report on Iran's nuclear program had changed the landscape for the US Presidential election in 2008. No longer are people concerned about security issues and those candidates who had advocated a strong military stance against Iran and continued presence in Iraq had seen their popularity ratings drop.

But is it really true that Iran had given up its nuclear program? or is the report intentionally planted to draw votes away from the hawkish camp to those that are dovish in nature? I am not convinced that Iran had given up its ambitious program four years ago and kept silent about it. If they had, then why were they so reluctant to allow the UN nuclear inspectors to go in and verify their status? that would have been the easiest method to prove to the whole world that they are clean.

You might say that I am skewed towards Israel on this. I find it strange that Israel is still making plans to strike Iran and take out the nuclear facilities. I am sure the Israeli secret service would have done its homework and advised its government to relax if Iran is no longer a threat but unfortunately it is not so.

And I am still reading articles after articles on Israel Today newspaper stating the war preparations and now I am beginning to question the credibility of the US reports. Well, that is US politics for us... time will reveal who is right.

Quote from Israel Today newspaper

Headline News
Monday, December 10, 2007 by Staff Writer

'Conflict with Iran unavoidable'
Incoming Israeli ambassador to Britain, Ron Proser, told Britain's Sunday Telegraph that a military confrontation with Iran will be unavoidable if the Islamic Republic does not start cooperating with the international community over its nuclear program, and stop its hostile rhetoric toward Israel.

Proser, who previously served as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's top advisor on Iran, said Tehran could enrich enough uranium to build an atomic bomb by as early as 2009.

What's more, warned the Israeli, Iran will very soon reach a point where it is no longer dependent on outside sources to maintain and operate its nuclear facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday made his first public response to the recently published US National Intelligence Estimate suggesting that Iran had abandoned its efforts to attain nuclear military power, insisting that Israel would work together with the International Atomic Energy Agency to prove that Iran remains determined to build an atomic bomb.

Mr. Olmert told his cabinet that what is clear is that Iran continues to bolster its long-range missile arsenal and to increase its ability to enrich uranium, two warning signs that should call into question any assessment that says the Islamic Republic is no longer pursuing nuclear arms.

Unquote