{"id":2318805,"date":"2024-08-03T20:40:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T00:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-iran-just-announce-it-possesses-a-nuclear-weapon\/"},"modified":"2024-08-03T20:42:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-04T00:42:58","slug":"fact-check-did-iran-just-announce-it-possesses-a-nuclear-weapon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-iran-just-announce-it-possesses-a-nuclear-weapon\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact Check: Did Iran Just Announce It Possesses a Nuclear Weapon?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffact-check-did-iran-just-announce-it-possesses-a-nuclear-weapon%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2318805&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses\u2063 escalating tensions between Iran and\u2064 Israel, particularly in the context of Iran&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-wont-lift-iran-sanctions-until-they-stop-uranium-enrichment-still-wants-to-rejoin-deal\/\" title=\"Biden won\u2019t lift Iran sanctions until they stop uranium enrichment, still wants to rejoin deal\">nuclear capabilities<\/a>. Following the assassination of\u200c a Hamas leader in Tehran, Iranian officials have made \u200bstatements suggesting they\u200d possess\u200b or are entitled to nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Israel. A notable quote attributed to\u2063 Iranian politician Ahmed Ardestani suggests that although Iran has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-claims-to-be-ready-for-second-round-of-peace-talks-warns-wwiii-would-involve-nuclear-weapons\/\" title=\"Russia Claims to Be Ready for Second Round of Peace Talks \u2013 Warns WWIII Would Involve Nuclear Weapons\">acquired nuclear weapons<\/a>, it prefers to keep this information under wraps. However, the Middle East Media \u200cResearch Institute (MEMRI) interprets these statements as efforts by Iranian leaders to shape international perceptions regarding \u200dIran\u2019s nuclear ambitions and to prepare for potential acceptance of its\u2062 nuclear status.<\/p>\n<p>A March \u2062report by the Congressional Research Service\u2063 confirmed that,\u2064 as of that date, Iran \u2064did not have a nuclear weapon. In a July\u200b statement, U.S. \u2062National Security \u2064Adviser Jake Sullivan expressed doubt about\u200c Iran&#8217;s \u2062readiness to pursue nuclear capabilities, indicating that any move in that direction would provoke a significant response from\u200c the United States. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, some Israeli political leaders advocate for aggressive measures \u2063to \u2064prevent\u2063 Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman suggested \u2063that\u2062 destroying\u2064 Iran\u2019s nuclear program is vital for Israel&#8217;s security, linking it to broader regional\u2062 threats posed by groups like Hezbollah \u2064and Hamas. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/read-new-york-times-first-article-about-hitler-in-1922\/\" title=\"Check out the inaugural New York Times piece on Hitler from 1922\">article encapsulates<\/a> the\u200c high-stakes geopolitical dialogue surrounding Iran&#8217;s nuclear ambitions and its implications for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-faces-first-main-foreign-policy-test-within-georgia\/\" title=\"Biden Faces First Main Foreign Policy Test within Georgia\">regional security<\/a>, particularly\u200d regarding its relationship\u2062 with Israel.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With a wave of vitriol cascading toward Israel from Tehran, fears are spiking that next to come will be a nuclear strike.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although in theory, Iran agreed in a since-scuttled deal with the Obama administration not to develop a nuclear bomb, reports that emerged in 2022 said Iran had been trying to conceal banned activity that moved the country in the direction of joining the world&rsquo;s nuclear club, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-middle-east-61645243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that Iran says it will attack Israel after a leader of Hamas was assassinated in Tehran, fears that Iran completed the last step to being ready to possibly nuke Israel are running wild.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/global__eyes\/status\/1819804411931349183?s=12&amp;t=-gjLrbHvugUrQSNLLYOF6A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post on X<\/a> proclaimed Iran has publicly announced for the first time that it has nuclear weapons. According to the tweet, Iranian Politician Ahmed Ardestani said, &ldquo;We have obtained nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth is a little more nuanced (though still quite alarming) according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In mid-May <a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/reports\/iranian-majlis-member-dr-ahmad-bakhshayesh-ardestani-interview-irans-roydad-24-news-iran\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MEMRI<\/a> examined Ardestani&rsquo;s statements, which had been made on May 10, 2024.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MEMRI argued comments like Ardestani&rsquo;s are &ldquo;a series of statements by senior Iranian officials aimed at establishing in international public opinion the concept that Iran has nuclear weapons, or that Iran is entitled to them for deterrence as part of attaining a nuclear balance of terror vis-&agrave;-vis Israel and the U.S.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;As an academic specializing in political strategy who is also a politician, he allows for plausible deniability aimed at letting the world know that Iran either has or should have nuclear weapons to offset Israel&rsquo;s,&rdquo; the MEMRI analysis read.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going farther, MEMRI suggested Iran is &ldquo;preparing international opinion for its announcement that it has a bomb, and in order to temper any opposition to this.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The level of threat implied, the post read, is shown in a comment from Ardestani in which he said, &ldquo;I believe that Iran&rsquo;s becoming nuclear will gain gradual acceptance. As soon as you enter the nuclear club, they have to accept you. This deterrence [provided by possessing a nuclear weapon] makes the world realize that it respects Iran&rsquo;s role. Now, the wisdom of the masses in America understands that Iran cannot be ignored.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/crsreports.congress.gov\/product\/pdf\/IF\/IF12106\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congressional Research Service report<\/a> from March further noted that Iran did not, as of that time, have a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In July, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Iran is not believed to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/iranian-leader-orders-massive-escalation-clash-israel-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ready<\/a> to go nuclear, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/iran-nuclear-weapons-sullivan-blinken-2ba2de90dce5047c4a698b2d57a90e4b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;&ldquo;I have not seen a decision by Iran to move&rdquo; in that direction, he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;If they start moving down that road, they&rsquo;ll find a real problem with the United States,&rdquo; he said. Sullivan, however, did not discuss what that problem might be nor how the U.S. could effectively maneuver against Iran once it goes nuclear.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some Israeli political leaders say <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-accused-accommodating-iran-republicans-demand-change-course-israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iran<\/a> must be forcibly stopped from gaining a nuclear weapon, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/opposition-party-head-appears-to-urge-nuclear-action-to-stop-irans-atomic-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Times of Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman implied that a nuclear strike on Iran would be necessary, saying that &ldquo;in this confrontation between Israel and the axis of evil, we must win &mdash; and without defeating Iran and destroying its nuclear program, we cannot beat either Hezbollah or Hamas.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;In order to stop the Iranian nuclear program, which is already at weaponization stages, we must use all the tools at our disposal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It must be clear that, at this stage, it is impossible to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons via conventional means.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As hostility from Tehran towards Israel intensifies, concerns are rising about the possibility of a nuclear attack. Although Iran had theoretically committed to not pursuing nuclear weapons under a now-defunct agreement with the Obama administration, reports from 2022 indicated that Iran was attempting to hide prohibited activities that could lead it toward becoming a nuclear power, as noted by the BBC. Following the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran, Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel, fueling fears that it may be on the brink of being capable of launching a nuclear strike. A post on X claimed that Iran has publicly declared for the first time that it possesses nuclear weapons. Iranian politician Ahmed Ardestani allegedly stated, &#8220;We have obtained nuclear weapons but do not announce it.&#8221; However, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), this situation is more complex and still concerning.<\/p>\n<p>In mid-May 2024, MEMRI analyzed Ardestani&#8217;s remarks made on May 10 and suggested they reflect an ongoing effort by senior Iranian officials to shape international perceptions regarding Iran&#8217;s potential possession of nuclear arms or its right to them for deterrence purposes against Israel and the U.S. The analysis pointed out that as an academic and politician specializing in political strategy, Ardestani allows for plausible deniability while signaling to the world that Iran either possesses or should possess such weapons as a counterbalance against Israel.<\/p>\n<p>MEMRI further posited that Iran is preparing global opinion for an eventual announcement regarding its acquisition of a bomb while trying to mitigate any backlash against this development. The implied threat was underscored by Ardestani\u2019s comment about how acceptance would gradually follow once Iran joins &#8220;the nuclear club,&#8221; suggesting this would enhance respect for Iran&#8217;s role globally.<\/p>\n<p>A Congressional Research Service report from March confirmed that as of then, Iran did not have a functional nuclear weapon. In July, national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated there was no indication at present that Iran was readying itself for such capabilities according to Associated Press reports: \u201cI have not seen any decision by Iran\u201d in this regard; he warned if they pursued this path they would face significant issues with the United States but did not elaborate on what those challenges might entail or how America could effectively respond if confronted with a nuclear-capable Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Some Israeli leaders argue forceful measures are necessary to prevent Iranian access to atomic weaponry. Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman suggested military action might be required against Iran: \u201cIn order to win this confrontation between Israel and evil forces,\u201d he said we must defeat both Hezbollah and Hamas through dismantling Iranian capabilities first. He emphasized using all available means since conventional methods alone cannot stop Tehran\u2019s progress toward acquiring nukes at their current stage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2318806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-842341404-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[13420,3823,37107],"class_list":["post-2318805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fact-check","tag-iran","tag-nuclear-weapons"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-842341404-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2318805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2318805\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2318806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2318805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2318805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2318805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}