Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian Parliament, stated in an interview over the weekend that he believed his country had successfully developed a nuclear weapon, in violation of international law, but would not openly acknowledge it. Ardestani insisted that Iran would continue to claim compliance with the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” (JCPOA), the 2015 agreement negotiated by former American President Barack Obama that significantly reduced sanctions on Tehran in exchange for a commitment not to expand its nuclear program. Despite Iran’s consistent breaches of the nuclear deal over the years, President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018, while the other four countries involved in the JCPOA – China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom – have remained parties to it.
Ardestani’s remarks, as reported by the opposition news outlet Iran International, came after a tense visit to Iran by the head of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, who criticized the Islamist regime’s lack of cooperation with inspections as “completely unsatisfactory” and urged Iran to adhere to international standards. During an interview on Friday with the website Rouydad 24, the lawmaker suggested that Iran might already possess a nuclear weapon.
“In my opinion, we have achieved nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it. It means our policy is to possess nuclear bombs, but our declared policy is currently within the framework of the JCPOA,” Iran International translated Ardestani as saying. “The reason is that when countries want to confront others, their capabilities must be compatible, and Iran’s compatibility with America and Israel means that Iran must have nuclear weapons.”
Ardestani proposed that Tehran should acquire nuclear weapons due to the United States being one of the few recognized nuclear powers globally. He insinuated that Israel also possesses nuclear capabilities, despite Israel never officially confirming its possession of nuclear weapons, leading many international observers to believe that Israel has indeed developed its own nuclear arsenal.
“In a climate where Russia has attacked Ukraine and Israel has attacked Gaza, and Iran is a staunch supporter of the Resistance Front, it is natural for the containment system to require that Iran possess nuclear bombs,” Ardestani reportedly said. “However, whether Iran declares it is another matter.”
Iran International has suggested that the reelection of Ardestani to Parliament this year is an indication of his status as a trusted figure within the regime. This is due to the fact that only preapproved candidates, as determined by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are allowed to appear on the election ballots. Ardestani, who has had close ties to former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fell out of favor with Khamenei and was prevented from running for president in both 2017 and 2021.
Despite numerous reports and substantial evidence compiled by Israel, Iran has consistently denied any interest in nuclear weapons. They claim that their nuclear development is solely for peaceful purposes. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated this claim during a conference on Sunday, emphasizing Iran’s opposition to the presence of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
