Iran may be six months from ten nuclear warheads Expert warns

Iran could potentially have ten nuclear warheads ready by April, Olli Heinonen, a former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.

Heinonen, who has visited Iranian nuclear sites, indicated that if Iran expedited its efforts, it could achieve this capability within six months. While he acknowledged that such missiles cannot annihilate a country, they would significantly strengthen Iran’s position in negotiations, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Iran officially maintains that its nuclear program is intended for civilian use, but many, including Israel and Western nations, view it as a cover for developing weapons. Recent IAEA reports revealed Iran has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, surpassing 165 kg—far exceeding the amount reported just months earlier. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Iran could reach weapons-grade enrichment in just a few months.

Heinonen also noted that the missiles Iran has recently launched at Israel could be adapted to deliver nuclear warheads. He emphasized the concern among the US and UK regarding Iran’s evolving defence strategy, which implies a willingness to use nuclear capabilities if negotiations falter. However, he believes Iran would likely use such weapons as leverage rather than in actual conflict due to the substantial risks involved.

While discussions around a preemptive strike by Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities are ongoing, President Biden has indicated he does not support such actions. Israeli analysts argue that any significant advances in Iran’s nuclear program would likely trigger a preemptive strike, akin to past military actions against nuclear sites in Iraq and Syria.

Iran's nuclear facilities, often fortified and located underground, present a formidable challenge for any military strike. The geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, with Iran potentially leveraging its uranium stockpile as a bargaining tool for a new nuclear deal amid rising tensions in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva