An Iranian official said that the country has the ability to enrich uranium in a week to make nuclear weapons.
Javad Karimi-Ghodousi, a member of Iran’s national security committee, said that technically his country could enrich uranium to 90% purity “for warheads” in “half a day until evening”. at most a week”.
He said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is “aware” of Tehran’s capabilities.
Previously, IAEA leader Rafael Grossi said on April 23 that Iran may only need “weeks, not months” to have enough enriched uranium to develop a nuclear bomb.
The IAEA chief said Iran’s uranium enrichment levels near weapons-grade levels should cause alarm, but he had no evidence that Tehran currently has nuclear weapons.
Mr. Karimi-Ghodousi quoted Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying that Tehran “will respond to threats at the same level”.
The IAEA is expected to meet with senior Iranian officials in May following an April 18 warning by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander in charge of nuclear security, Ahmad Haghtalab.
Mr. Haghtalab warned that any aggressive action by Israel against Iran would result in a strong reaction.
In addition, he said, in response to potential threats from Israel against Iran’s nuclear facilities, Tehran could also review its nuclear policy.
“If Israel attempts to use the threat of attacking Iran’s nuclear centers as a means to pressure Tehran, then Iran could reconsider its nuclear doctrine and policy, potentially different from the previously announced viewpoint,” Mr. Haghtalab stated.
Mr. Grossi from the IAEA commented that Mr. Haghtalab’s warning was a concern, emphasizing that the Middle East is in a very fragile situation.
Iran has repeatedly declared that its nuclear program “only serves peaceful purposes”. However, Iranian officials also affirmed that they have the ability to build a nuclear bomb but have no plans to do so.
