IRGC-linked Iranian outlet says Iran must build nuclear bomb

An Iranian state-affiliated media outlet has published a commentary arguing that Iran has "no choice" but to develop a nuclear bomb, a stance that directly contradicts the country's recent commitments under a U.S.-brokered interim agreement. The article, titled "No choice but to build the atomic bomb," was published by the Fars News Agency, which is linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Sunday, June 28.

The commentary asserts that Iran must achieve nuclear deterrence to secure its strategic position and negotiate with adversaries from a position of strength. It claims that possessing a nuclear weapon would remove the possibility of foreign powers attempting to occupy or partition Iran and would allow disputes to be resolved through diplomacy. The article draws a parallel to China's historical experience, arguing that the United States only engaged in serious negotiations with Beijing after China became a nuclear power.

This public advocacy for nuclear weapons comes amid a fragile diplomatic context. Earlier this month, Iran and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which Iran agreed to restore access for inspectors from the...