Understanding Iran's Nuclear Threat: A Simple Explanation

International scrutiny of Iran ’ s nuclear and missile programs intensified in late 2024 following a historic exchange of direct military strikes between Iran and Israel, as well as the. 6 days ago · Understanding the Iranian path towards a nuclear weapon should help us re-calibrate the nuclear proliferation calculation and its relevance to nuclear energy. Experience is showing us that the preferred path to weapons-grade nuclear material is centrifuges (Pakistan, Iran ) or research reactors to make plutonium (India, and Israel). Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. It insists it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons, but many countries - as well as the global nuclear watchdog, the. In retaliation for the U.S. Departure and for deadly attacks on prominent Iranians in 2020, including one by the United States, Iran has resumed its nuclear activities. How did Iran build a bomb , what are enriched uranium and plutonium, what role do centrifuges play, and how would the destruction of a reactor buried 90 meters underground be carried out? While some view nuclear armament as a strategic necessity in an increasingly volatile world, others argue that it contradicts Iran’s historical, ethical, and cultural principles. This article seeks to explore Iran’s nuclear trajectory from a political, academic, and humanitarian perspective. Domestic Political Motivations 1. The issue of Iran ’ s nuclear ambitions remains one of the most contentious and complex subjects in international relations. Indeed, it extends beyond technical capabilities or regional goals and touches upon political strategy, national identity, and national security. As the latest satellite images appear to confirm, being struck with more than a dozen bunker buster bombs will have seriously impeded, if not destroyed, Iran ’ s nuclear program . This conundrum calls for a rigorous examination of Iran’s deter-rence policy and the identification of obstacles hindering the adop-tion of a nuclear deterrence strategy. The present study’s contribution is thus twofold.