If threatened, Iran could make a nuclear bomb
Iran will not hesitate to produce nuclear bombs if threatened. One of the most real threats comes from Israel.
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DUBAI, THURSDAY — Iran will change its nuclear doctrine if its existence is threatened. One of the threats mentioned comes from Israel. The possibility of changing this nuclear doctrine is worrying.
So far, Iran's statement and commitment is that its nuclear development program is only for peaceful purposes. Iran has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to make nuclear weapons. Now, that commitment is being questioned.
Also read: Iran and the Nuclear Weapons Issue
The possibility of Iran changing its nuclear doctrine was expressed by Kamal Kharrazi, Advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Thursday (9/5/2024). From the start, Western countries suspected Iran of developing nuclear technology to make bombs. Suspicions about Iran's nuclear program have long been debated and resulted in sanctions from Western countries.
"We have no plans to make a nuclear bomb. However, if our existence is threatened, we have no other choice but to revise our military doctrine," said Kharrazi, as reported by the Iranian Student News Network.
In 2022, Kharrazi also said that Iran was technically capable of making a nuclear bomb. However, they haven't decided whether to actually make it. In April 2024, one of the senior commanders in Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said that Israel's threat could change Iran's nuclear doctrine.
Also read: Iran Versus Israel
Khamenei, the ultimate decision maker in Iran's nuclear program, has already banned the development of nuclear weapons. This ban has been codified in the form of a fatwa or religious order in the early 2000s.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized that developing and stockpiling nuclear bombs is wrong and their use is prohibited or forbidden by religion. However, in 2021, Iran's intelligence minister stated that Western pressure could push Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
Khamenei reaffirmed the fatwa in 2019, emphasizing that creating and stockpiling nuclear weapons is wrong and their use is also forbidden or prohibited by religion. However, in 2021, the Iranian intelligence minister stated that Western pressure could push Iran to develop nuclear weapons.
"If there is an attack on our nuclear facilities by the Zionist regime (Israel), our attitude will change," said Kharrazi.
Iran and Israel have long been archenemies. However, the tension between the two escalated and turned into open confrontation in April 2024. At that time, Iran launched approximately 300 missiles and unmanned aircraft towards Israel. This was Iran's first direct attack on Israel since the 1979 revolution.
Also read: Iran Attacks Israel with Hundreds of Drones
The Iranian attack was in retaliation to Israel's alleged attack on its embassy complex in Damascus, Syria. Israel responded by launching an attack on Iranian territory.
Iran has enriched uranium to a purity level of 60 percent. In order to be used for weaponry, uranium must be enriched to about 90 percent.
According to official International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) benchmarks, if existing nuclear material were further enriched, it would be enough to make two nuclear weapons.
In a report presented at the IAEA meeting in March 2024, it was estimated that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile had reached 27 times the limit set in the 2015 agreement.
IAEA oversight
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Tuesday (7/5/2024), criticized Iran for being unwilling to cooperate. Iran is considered less committed in cooperating related to the monitoring of its nuclear development.
Grossi urges Iranian leaders to adopt concrete measures for nuclear monitoring and security, in order to address international community concerns regarding their nuclear program.
Also read: Iran Can Now Make Dozens of Nuclear Bombs
"The current situation is truly unsatisfactory. We are almost at a dead end. This needs to be resolved," said Grossi who visited Iran.
Grossi had spoken with senior Iranian officials, including the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami, and spoke at the first International Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology held in Isfahan, Iran.
Iran's agreement with the IAEA in March 2023 is still valid, but it needs more substance. Despite being a deal, the IAEA assesses that the implementation of the agreement has slowed down.
One example is when Iran reduced the number of inspections and withdrew accreditation for a group of IAEA experts. Iran suspended compliance with the 2015 agreement that established restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.
Also read: Iran Removes Dozens of Surveillance Cameras for Its Nuclear Program
This happened after the United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Following that, the US imposed sanctions on Iran once again.
Iran and IAEA have been at odds repeatedly since the agreement failed. The European Union's mediation efforts have also so far failed to bring the US back into the agreement.
The IAEA has repeatedly criticized Iran for its lack of cooperation in monitoring the nuclear program, banning inspectors, and deactivating IAEA monitoring devices at Iran's nuclear facilities.
Grossi explained that there is no agreed timeframe for the implementation of the 2023 agreement. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has already stated that Iran is ready to take concrete steps.
In a joint press conference with Grossi in Isfahan on Tuesday (7/5/2024), Eslami stated that the talks with Grossi were constructive. Iran agrees that the 2023 agreement was a good start for interaction between the two parties.
However, Eslami also denounced hostile actions towards Iran's nuclear program by Western countries. He blamed Israel for inciting the West to be hostile towards Iran. Responding to this, Grossi confirmed that the IAEA's relationship with Iran is not influenced by any party. (REUTERS/AP)