Efforts to Normalize Nuclear Bomb Production; Ali Akbar Salehi: We Have All the Thresholds of Nuclear Science and Technology

While the Islamic Republic has always claimed, citing 'Ali Khamenei's fatwa', that it does not intend to build a nuclear bomb, the former Foreign Minister and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran implicitly stated in a television program that Tehran has 'the necessary capability to build a nuclear bomb.' Ali Akbar Salehi, in the television program 'Bermuda', responded to a question from Kamran Najafzadeh, a controversial former journalist of the Islamic Republic's state television, about the capability to produce a nuclear bomb, stating: 'We currently have all the thresholds of nuclear science and technology.' He compared the ability to produce nuclear weapons by the Islamic Republic to the ability to manufacture cars, adding: 'Just as a car needs a chassis, engine, gearbox, and other components to be completed, the nuclear industry has a different execution that we have prepared all of them, and only by assembling these components can we achieve our desired goals.' Earlier, in mid-January, a television host had asked the head of the Atomic Energy Organization in a live program: 'Isn't it time for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons?' The 'Institute for Science and International Security' based in Washington announced in February that the Iranian government could build a nuclear bomb in a week and six bombs in a month. The institute specified in its report that the likelihood of Iran producing a nuclear bomb has increasingly grown under the shadow of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and the Islamic Republic can now enrich more uranium to weapons-grade by obstructing inspectors' work. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency stated on Thursday, January 29, that the Islamic Republic has limited its cooperation with the Agency and has taken the organization 'hostage' in its disputes with Western countries. Rafael Grossi criticized Iran for 'rejecting inspectors' due to their nationality, adding: 'This is a very disappointing situation. We continue our activities there, but the officials of the Islamic Republic have limited cooperation in a very unprecedented manner and brought it to the lowest level.' At the same time, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that the Biden administration is aware of the Director-General's comments and appreciates his efforts to verify, oversee Iran's nuclear program, and resolve outstanding safeguards issues. The head of the Islamic Republic's Atomic Energy Organization criticized the IAEA's approach towards Iran's nuclear program on Friday, February 20, stating: 'Unfortunately, the Agency has not cooperated with Iran's nuclear industry from the beginning due to the application of double standards and the destructive behavior of the hegemonic system.' In recent years, Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized, citing Ali Khamenei's statements, that they are not seeking to build nuclear weapons, but in recent months, Iranian government officials have increasingly been questioned in various television programs about the timeline for producing nuclear weapons. The Institute for Science and International Security: The Iranian government can build a nuclear bomb in a week. Iran's response to the Agency: We have no obligation to answer all questions. The European Troika: We will not lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic anymore. The U.S. ambassador to the Agency criticized Iran for 'disrupting' the Agency's activities. The Agency is concerned about Iran's actions in preventing the activities of 'the most experienced' nuclear inspectors. A confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency: The Islamic Republic has enough uranium to build three nuclear bombs.