Iran warns it will make nuclear bomb

An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reignited concerns over the country's nuclear ambitions, particularly in light of escalating tensions with Israel.

Kamal Kharrazi, the adviser, hinted at a shift in Iran's nuclear doctrine if its existence is perceived to be under threat by Israel, reports ndtv.com today (May 12).

"We have no decision to build a nuclear bomb, but should Iran's existence be threatened, there will be no choice but to change our military doctrine," Kharrazi said.

Tensions between Iran and Israel reached a tipping point when the former launched a barrage of explosive drones and missiles directly targeting Israeli territory, in response to the bombing of Iran's embassy in Syria's capital Damascus earlier in April.

Despite Ayatollah Khamenei's previous fatwa against nuclear weapons development, Iran's then-intelligence minister hinted in 2021 that external pressures, particularly from Western nations, could prompt a reassessment of Iran's nuclear posture._Agencies.