- The spokesperson for the Iranian military institution, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, stated that Iran needs nuclear weapons to “counter Israeli madness.”
- This assertion comes in response to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed that a nuclear-armed Iran would mean the end of Israel.
- This is a clear and uncommon declaration, as Iran has traditionally denied seeking such weapons, preferring civil nuclear power.
Iran claims nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence
The Iranian military’s Khatam el-Anbiya central headquarters publicly asserted on Saturday the necessity for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Through its spokesperson, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the military institution stated on its X account that these capabilities are essential “to counter Israeli madness.” This stance comes in response to recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that “nuclear weapons in Iran’s hands would mean the end of Israel.”
In his message, Mr Zolfaghari directly addressed the Israeli leader, accusing him of having “already devastated Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon,” and now seeking to destroy Iran. He insisted that nuclear capability is envisioned as an essential deterrent against any future aggression. This declaration marks a turning point, as Iran has in the past always denied wanting to acquire atomic weapons, claiming to limit itself to civil nuclear power. Such an explicit assertion is considered unusual by observers.
A context of heightened tensions and firm policy
This statement comes amid an armed conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran, which began on 28 February 2026. The Iranian nuclear programme is one of the major causes of this offensive, although control of the Strait of Hormuz has also dominated the news. In May 2025, an Israeli strike targeted Iranian nuclear sites, though there was no certainty regarding the actual extent of the destruction.
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At the same time, the Iranian government reiterated on Saturday its commitment to showing firmness in the face of US sanctions and the “conspiracies” it attributes to the United States and Israel. It stressed that diplomacy and defence are “complementary, coordinated, and inseparable” tools for protecting national interests and the country’s territorial integrity. The situation between Washington and Tehran has deteriorated again following US strikes and Iranian retaliations in the Gulf, following a June agreement in principle that failed to materialise under the presidency of Donald Trump.
