By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Senior U.S. and Israeli officials will meet at the White House after fresh evidence suggested that Iran is further moving towards obtaining nuclear weapons, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Officials said U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are examining computer models made by Iranian scientists that could be used for the research and development of nuclear weapons.
Some U.S. and Israeli senior officials called the new information “a worrying signal” of Iran’s ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons.
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied that it is interested in nuclear weapons, and some U.S. and Israeli senior officials said the findings do not represent a change in Iran’s policy and strategy for obtaining nuclear weapons.
However, with concerns rising, senior US and Israeli officials were to meet Thursday at the White House for a meeting of the US-Israel Strategic Working Group (SCG) to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and other issues.
This will be the first high-level discussion between the US and Israel that will deal in depth with the Iranian nuclear program since March 2023, according to sources familiar with the talks.
MINISTER WARNINGS
If confirmed, the computer models suggested violations of Tehran’s pledges to the West: As part of the 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and other world powers, Iran promised not to engage in activities that are part of the design and development of atomic weapons. That also includes a ban on using computer models to simulate nuclear explosive devices.
In early May, former Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi spoke about the possibility of Iran producing nuclear weapons.
“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,” he said in published remarks.
An IAEA report from late May said Iran has roughly 142 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium — an increase of more than 20 kilograms since the previous report in February.
Iran would need only several weeks to enrich this amount of uranium to 90 percent, a level required for a nuclear weapon, according to U.S. and Israeli intelligence agency assessments.
Iran would need roughly 42 kilograms of 90 percent enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, experts say. Israel has already said it won’t allow Iran to have nuclear weapons and is prepared to take military action to prevent this.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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