Iran Warns Israel of Nuclear Threat Amid Rising Tensions

Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser, recently suggested that Iran may reconsider its nuclear doctrine if it feels threatened by Israel. He stated that while Iran has no current plans to build a nuclear bomb, a perceived threat to its existence could force a shift in its military doctrine. Tensions between Iran and Israel escalated when Iran launched a series of explosive drones and missiles targeting Israeli territory in response to the bombing of its embassy in Syria’s capital, Damascus.

Despite Ayatollah Khamenei’s previous decree against developing nuclear weapons, Iran’s former intelligence minister hinted in 2021 that external pressures, particularly from Western nations, could lead to a reassessment of Iran’s nuclear posture. Kharrazi added that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel would prompt a change in their deterrence strategy. Efforts to engage with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have seen mixed results.

Discussions between Iran’s nuclear officials and IAEA representatives have been described as productive, but there has been limited tangible progress. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, expressed frustration over what he perceives as Iran’s lack of cooperation and emphasized the need for concrete measures to address concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. Last year, Iran committed to assisting in investigating uranium particles found at undeclared sites and reinstalling monitoring equipment.

However, Grossi noted dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and called for a change, as both sides acknowledged the 2023 agreement as a potential framework for cooperation, but implementation has been slow. Concerns were also raised about external interference, particularly from Israel, which Iran views as a hostile actor.