Iranian Lawmaker Says He Believes Iran Already Has Nuclear Weapons But Does Not Announce It
The IAEA announced earlier this year that Iran had obtained enough enriched uranium to make "several" nuclear bombs if Iran chose to build them.
TEHRAN - After Iran said it would change its nuclear doctrine if Israel attacked its nuclear facilities, an Iranian lawmaker told an Iranian news agency that the country has already obtained nuclear weapons, "but do not announce it".
This, after the IAEA had announced that Iran had obtained enough enriched uranium to make "several" nuclear bombs if Iran chose to build them.
At the end of April, Israel had carried out a limited strike on one of Iran's nuclear facilities in response to an Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel, which confirmed that Iran's ballistic missiles were capable of hitting Israeli territory.
The Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facility was "very limited" according to a U.S. official at the time, and targeted an air defense radar site protecting the Natanz nuclear facility in Central Iran.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani Iranian news outlet Rouydad 24 on Friday, "In my opinion, we have achieved nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it. It means our policy is to possess nuclear bombs, but our declared policy is currently within the framework of the JCPOA.
The reason is that when countries want to confront others, their capabilities must be compatible, and Iran's compatibility with America and Israel means that Iran must have nuclear weapons."
Ardestani added, “In a climate where Russia has attacked Ukraine and Israel has attacked Gaza, and Iran is a staunch supporter of the Resistance Front, it is natural for the containment system to require that Iran possess nuclear bombs. However, whether Iran declares it is another matter".