Iran must develop nuclear bomb to protect ‘peace and calm,’ IRGC media says — despite pledge to Trump
Iran has “no choice” but to develop a nuclear bomb, a media outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said — the latest threat to the peace deal.
The article, titled “No choice but to build the atomic bomb,” claims that Iran must negotiate with its enemies from a position of strength, and was published by Iranian state news outlet Fars on Sunday.
“To achieve the peace and calm that Iran needs, it must absolutely reach nuclear deterrence to ensure that the rest of the issues can be resolved through negotiation,” thunders the piece, before comparing Iran’s situation with the US to that of China in the 1970s.
“America threatened China with nuclear attack twice — similar to Trump’s recent nuclear threats against Iran — but when did Kissinger secretly meet with the Chinese and then negotiate? It was when China built the atomic bomb,” the article continues.
“Nuclear deterrence means that you can reach a balance of power against America and Israel, who possess atomic bombs — not so that war does not happen, but so that the scope of conflict remains controllable,” it goes on.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Washington and Tehran earlier this month, Iran agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to regain access to its nuclear sites after oversight was suspended last year.
It also pledged it would not develop a nuclear weapon.
The US has called on Iran to pause all nuclear enrichment for 20 years.
It comes after the head of the IAEA called for his inspectors to be given full access to Iran’s nuclear sites to monitor the program.
“The government of Iran has affirmed quite clearly that [developing nuclear weapons] is not their intention, but of course, intentions are not enough,” IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told reporters on Friday.
“In order to have certainty, we need to have a very strong system of verification as soon as practicable,” he added.
Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return in September, but it has not yet granted access to the nuclear sites that were bombed by President Trump in 2025.
The country’s stores of enriched uranium remain unaccounted for.
Iranian politicians have also defended what they call the country’s right to defend itself, backing up the calls by state media.
“Iran’s military capabilities ensure the Iranian people’s inherent right to legitimate self-defence in the face of aggression and crimes, while at the same time guaranteeing peace and stability in the region,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on X on Friday, later attacking the country’s Gulf neighbors.
Baghaei accused the Gulf nations of “engaging in aggression against their Muslim neighbor,” and “remaining silent regarding the Israeli nuclear arsenal,” in his statement.