US general: Iran could produce up to 10 nuclear warheads in three weeks

Iran possesses the technical capability to produce up to ten nuclear warheads within three weeks if it decides to accelerate its weapons program, according to a senior U.S. military official.

General Michael Kurilla, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), made the statement during a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, warning lawmakers of the growing nuclear risk posed by Tehran. CENTCOM oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and North Africa, Caliber.Az reports, citing CENTCOM's website.

“If Iran decides to move toward rapidly developing nuclear weapons, it is estimated that the existing stockpiles and centrifuges at several enrichment facilities would be sufficient to produce the first 25 kilograms of weapons-grade material in about one week, and up to ten nuclear warheads within three weeks,” General Kurilla testified.

He added that such a move would likely trigger a regional arms race, as other countries in the Middle East may pursue their own nuclear programs or seek to acquire weapons to maintain a deterrence balance with Iran.

“The acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran would prompt other regional powers to do everything possible to obtain similar capabilities—either through development or purchase,” Kurilla said.

The general’s remarks come amid stalled international efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which placed restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Since the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Iran has expanded its nuclear activities, raising concerns in Washington and among its allies.

For the record, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reported that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile continues to grow, and enrichment levels have reached up to 60%—well above the 3.67% cap set by the JCPOA but still below the roughly 90% needed for weapons-grade material. However, experts note that the technical leap from 60% to weapons-grade enrichment is relatively small.

By Khagan Isayev