According to Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, an Iranian lawmaker re-elected to Iran’s quasi-parliament in March, Iran has achieved nuclear weapons capabilities. However, the lawmaker emphasized that Iran’s official policy remains within the framework of the JCPOA, which provides economic sanctions relief in exchange for assurances that Iran will not build nuclear weapons.
Ardestani’s assertion has raised concerns, especially in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Gaza war. The lawmaker stated that Iran’s compatibility with the United States and Israel requires Iran to possess nuclear weapons in order to confront other countries. Iran’s claim of nuclear weapons capabilities has garnered attention amidst geopolitical tensions and global concerns about nuclear proliferation.