“Yes, claims that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons in the 1980s were made by some sources associated with neoconservative viewpoints, though the term “neocons” is often loosely applied and context matters. A 1984 report from Jane’s Defence Weekly, citing U.S. and West German intelligence sources, alleged that Iran was in the “final stages” of building a nuclear bomb, with completion projected by 1986. These claims emerged during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), when Iran’s nuclear program was reportedly restarted in secret, partly in response to Iraq’s chemical weapons use and the broader security threats Iran faced.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5738956&forum_id=2#49023689)