The IRGC-linked Fars News Agency published an article quoting Iran's Supreme Leader as ordering the nation to advance full-speed in developing nuclear weapons, arguing Iran has no choice but to build a nuclear deterrent against the US and Israel. The piece asserts Iran is preparing to withdraw from peace negotiations and pursue nuclear arms as soon as possible.
A Fars News Agency article, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), quotes the Supreme Leader as ordering the nation to pursue nuclear weapons at full speed and to prepare to withdraw from peace talks. The piece frames the move as a necessary nuclear deterrent against the US and Israel, and says Iran cannot rely on conventional deterrence.
The article, posted at 19:58 Jerusalem time, follows a similar op-ed by the same outlet earlier tonight (19:50) that first called for Iran to acquire nuclear deterrence. Together, the two pieces represent an escalation in semi-official Iranian rhetoric — from arguing nuclear weapons are strategically necessary to claiming the decision has been ordered from the highest level. The first piece argued Iran's situation mirrors China's, which only gained serious US negotiations after developing nuclear arms.
This development comes amid heightened tensions and an ongoing 'negotiating under fire' posture between Tehran and Washington, as The Zioneer has previously reported. The IRGC has repeatedly threatened responses to perceived US and Israeli aggression. However, the Fars article is an editorial — not an official government or military statement — and its specific claims about a direct Supreme Leader order have not been independently corroborated by other sources.
3 developments
- StrongIran's official news agency confirms MOU pledges not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons
- DevelopingIRGC's Fars news agency attacks Iran FM Araghchi over response to Trump
- DevelopingIranian channel questions why Iran should not have nuclear weapons
- DevelopingIranian state media issues threat against Israel, US via official news agency
Source and signal
- Internal intake