Ahmad-Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Iranian outlet Elina that the dispute with the US has shifted from the nuclear issue to the Strait of Hormuz, and that 'it is time for Iran to build a nuclear bomb' after paying heavy prices in conflicts.
The statement is the latest in a series of escalating Iranian nuclear threats. Ardestani acknowledged that neither Iran nor the US seeks a prolonged war, but claimed a de facto international consensus against Iran already exists. He also asserted that the main point of contention has shifted from the nuclear file to the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks come amid heightened US-Iran tensions and follow similar warnings from other Iranian figures, including a June 10 statement by the secretary-general of the Islamic Revolution Front who threatened an immediate nuclear bomb if attacked. The Zioneer has reported on multiple Iranian officials' nuclear threats in recent weeks. Ardestani's call, however, is notable for coming from a sitting member of parliament's national security committee, adding an institutional layer to the rhetoric.
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- Internal intake