Iran says the uranium it has begun enriching at a clandestine nuclear facility built into the side of a mountain near the holy city of Qom is needed for a research reactor in Tehran.

But all signs point to Iran's moving quickly to produce weapons-grade uranium in 2012, according to a new analysis from our intelligence experts at LIGNET.com.

If Iran is not turned back — and soon — it is likely to have a nuclear weapon in hand sooner than previously thought. The stakes have been raised, and Israel may not wait for further provocation before taking action.

Click HERE to read the full analysis on the developing situation in Iran at LIGNET.com, and to read our estimation of how many nuclear weapons Iran could make at the Fordow facility this year.