I am of the opinion that Iran already has nukes.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/07/does_iran_already_have_nuclear_weapons.html
Jack Anderson wrote in the 1998 that Iran had acquired at least two warheads from a former Soviet satellite right after the collapse. Also, their enrichment system is quite capable even with the whole stuxnet deal. They cleaned that up and were right back at it in no time. It is unlikely that they have a plutonium bomb, as we take air samples that would reveal Kr-85 if reprocessing were being done, but that wouldn't stop them from running 20% HEU through a centrifuge cascade and pumping out "bomb-ready" HEU for either a crude gun type or a more advanced implosion. They have plenty of competent engineers to make it work. With that in mind, I would not be surprised if they didn't have a limited nuclear capability right now and are merely waiting to secure greater capacity before demonstrating it. For the sake of their survival, I hope they do have the bomb.
I would not be surprised if they didn't have a limited nuclear capability right now and are merely waiting to secure greater capacity before demonstrating it.
Yup. They won't declare their nuclear arsenal until they have stuff like ICBMs, hypersonic cruise missiles, and fifth generation fighters. Why would they risk sanctions when they do not even have the appropriate delivery mechanisms yet in place. Once they reach a technological zenith, then I predict we'll be seeing a nuclear weapons test. I'm thinking sometime by the 2030s, assuming the brinkmanship lasts that long. This is why the pro-Israel lobby in the US has been beating the war drums lately.
(post is archived)