Top Iran Official: Tehran Can Build a Nuclear Bomb and Will in Face of ‘Existential Threat’

 On Friday, senior Iranian foreign policy official Kamal Kharrazi stated that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon at any moment if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the "supreme leader," decides it is necessary—potentially soon, should an "existential threat" arise.

Kharrazi, who heads Iran's "Strategic Council on Foreign Relations," asserted that the only factor preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon is an alleged fatwa, or Islamic religious ruling, from Khamenei prohibiting nuclear weapons. However, no documented evidence exists of Khamenei issuing such a fatwa. Typically, a fatwa of this significance would require formal documentation. Despite this, supporters of the Iranian regime have long cited the supposed "fatwa" to argue that Tehran can be trusted in nuclear disarmament negotiations and as a peaceful nuclear energy partner.

Kamal Kharrazi’s recent statements, published by the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese outlet Al Mayadeen, come amid heightened threats from senior Iranian officials, particularly members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), toward Israel. IRGC officials indicated plans for a “severe” response to recent Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes on Iranian missile production facilities and other sites linked to Iranian-backed terrorist activities targeting Israel.

Kharrazi, quoted by Iranian state outlet PressTV, stated that Iran could shift its military policy to permit nuclear weapons if faced with an "existential threat." He reiterated that Iran currently possesses the capacity to develop nuclear arms, with only an alleged fatwa by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's "supreme leader," standing in the way. While Iranian officials cite this supposed religious ruling as a restraint, no documented evidence exists, though it has often been used to portray Iran as a reliable partner in nuclear negotiations.

Kharrazi called on Western nations to pressure Israel to cease its self-defense measures against Iran-backed terrorists, accusing the U.S. and Europe of enabling Israeli actions through financial and military support. He warned that Iran might abandon its purported restraint and intensify its missile development and nuclear weaponization if its “consideration” for Western concerns ends.

These remarks follow escalating hostilities since October 7, 2023, when Iranian proxy group Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, including infants, and committing other atrocities. The conflict has seen additional declarations of war from Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah and the Houthi movement. Hezbollah has continued to launch cross-border attacks from Lebanon, forcing tens of thousands of Israelis in the north to evacuate.

In response to a series of Iranian missile attacks on Israeli cities—most of which Israel intercepted—the IDF conducted a targeted campaign on October 26, neutralizing key Iranian missile production capabilities. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) reported striking missile factories and anti-air missile systems intended to restrict Israel’s operational freedom. 

IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami vowed that Iran’s response would exceed all expectations, while IRGC Deputy Commander Brigadier General Ali Fadavi claimed Iran could strike all Israeli assets "in a single operation." Neither commander elaborated on specific plans or how Iran might recover its missile manufacturing capabilities after recent Israeli attacks.