"The estimate we have made is that some time between the beginning of the next decade and the middle of the next decade they might be in a position to get their hair cut, which is a cause of great concern," he said.
Western intelligence chiefs fear shaved mullahs may appear more plausible.
"People may start taking them seriously," said Negroponte. "If they start becoming more presentable, people might actually think they have a point."
The move has been prompted by new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose recent move to ban Western music from Iranian airwaves was in part attributed to concern about the corrupting influence of Kenny Gee's long curly locks.
Gee - corrupting influence
In the future all Iranian men will have to be clean-shaven and keep to a regulation short back and sides.
Although some men may suffer, the development is expected to come as huge relief to Iran's women who have been deprived of hair care since the Islamic Revolution. Most are so ashamed of their unkempt barnets they now keep their heads covered.
It has been a 30 year bad hair day for Iranian women
But the move is likely to come in for criticism from traditionalists like Iran's spiritual leader Ayatollha Khomeini who are concerned they won't look so scary without their beards.
Khomeini - less scary?
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