Key facts
- Iranian officials are increasingly discussing nuclear weapons development amid an ongoing war with the US.
- Lawmakers and security officials suggest acquiring nuclear weapons is crucial for national survival.
- Iran's nuclear infrastructure has been significantly damaged by strikes.
- The location of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile is uncertain.
- Thousands of centrifuges are reportedly moved to a deep underground site called Pickaxe Mountain.
Hardline factions in Iran are increasingly advocating for the development of nuclear weapons, a significant departure from the country's long-held official stance. This shift occurs amidst an ongoing war with the United States, which has seen key Iranian leaders killed and nuclear facilities targeted. Some Iranian officials and lawmakers now argue that acquiring nuclear weapons is essential for the nation's survival, especially after the February 28 strikes that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei and other top brass.
While Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and previously adhered to a fatwa banning nuclear weapons, the current conflict has fueled debate. Lawmakers like Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani and Hossein Ali Haji-Deligani have publicly called for nuclear weapons, with commentator Davud Modarresian stating it is more important than food and a guarantee of survival. However, some, like senior adviser Mohammad Mokhber, maintain that Iran already possesses sufficient deterrence through its regional influence and control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The state of Iran's nuclear infrastructure is uncertain, with key facilities at Natanz and Fordow reportedly damaged or destroyed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost track of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. US and Israeli officials claim Iran has moved thousands of centrifuges to a deep underground site known as Pickaxe Mountain, a development that has drawn US attention.