Iranian MP urges nuclear armament to level playing field with West

A senior Iranian lawmaker has publicly called for the development of nuclear weapons, arguing that only by possessing such deterrent capabilities can Tehran engage with Western powers on equal footing.

Speaking at an open session of the Iranian Mejlis (parliament), Mohammad Qasim Osmani stated that the pursuit of nuclear arms is a necessary response to what he described as Western arrogance and coercion, Caliber.Az reports, citing the SNN TV channel.

“Avoiding a military conflict is reasonable and logical, but global arrogance has left us no other way. If we have no other tool to combat bullying and excessive demands, then the only way is a rapid and consistent movement towards the creation of nuclear weapons as a deterrent,” 

He further argued that despite the economic and political costs associated with such a move, Iran stands to gain significantly in terms of national security and strategic leverage. “Nuclear science will have to lead us to negotiations on equal terms,” he asserted.

The MP’s remarks come amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington. On March 7, former US President Donald Trump revealed that he had extended an offer to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to resume talks on the country’s nuclear programme. While Iran declined direct dialogue, it indicated a willingness to engage through intermediaries.

Later, on March 30, Trump warned that the US would impose additional tariffs on Iran within two weeks if the nuclear talks failed to progress. He also threatened Iran with “unprecedented bombing” should it reject the proposed deal.

Responding to the threats, Khamenei dismissed the possibility of a US military strike but cautioned that any attempt to destabilise the country would be met with a strong and decisive response.

By Vugar Khalilov