Iran could go nuclear by year's end, Republican congressman warns
As the US gears up for the 2024 presidential elections, Republicans are amplifying Iran concerns with GOP leaders saying Tehran may declare itself a nuclear weapons state this year.
As the US gears up for the 2024 presidential elections, Republicans are amplifying Iran concerns with GOP leaders saying Tehran may declare itself a nuclear weapons state this year.
On Sunday, Rep. Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, warned that Iran could declare itself a nuclear power "by the end of the year," a development he attributed to the Biden administration's lenient policies towards Tehran.
"What we see now with this administration, [Iran] might declare themselves a nuclear weapons state by the end of this year, with the reports have been- news reports have been out stating that there is a possibility," Turner said Sunday on CBS.
Turner, a Republican from Ohio, defended recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who has taken a softer tone on Iran while emphasizing the necessity of preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. Last week, Trump said, "They can't have a nuclear weapon, and we were all set to make sure that they don't have a nuclear weapon," adding that the situation would drastically change if Iran were to achieve nuclear capability.
Iran's nuclear program has been a persistent source of global concern. While Tehran maintains its nuclear activities are purely civilian, the accelerating pace of uranium enrichment to levels far exceeding those required for energy production raises serious questions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly reported that Iran is not completely transparent about its nuclear advancements, but the international community's response has been largely limited to US-led sanctions.
Iran International reported last week that the country is intensifying its covert nuclear weapons program, bringing it closer than ever to developing a nuclear bomb. These claims echo earlier statements by high-ranking Iranian officials. Ali-Akbar Salehi, former head of Iran's nuclear agency, cryptically implied in early 2024 that Iran possesses all the components necessary for a nuclear weapon. Similarly, Kamal Kharrazi, a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, admitted in 2022 that Iran has the technical capability to build a nuclear bomb but insisted it has no such intention.
These statements, coupled with the regime's increasingly assertive rhetoric, paint a disturbing picture of a country determined to expand its nuclear capabilities.
Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly stated that according to a fatwa (Islamic decree) by the Supreme Leader, the construction of an atomic bomb is not on Tehran's agenda. However, few in the international community believe in a fatwa that can be revoked at any moment.
In an interview with Iran International in February, leading nuclear weapons expert David Albright warned that this is the time when “Iran may decide to make nuclear weapons.”
According to Rep. Turner, "There is a possibility" that the Supreme Leader changes his decision and “Iran declares itself a nuclear weapon state by the end of the year.”
The concern over Iran's influence extends beyond its nuclear program. Turner highlighted recent reports of Iranian cyberattacks targeting the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, as well as an alleged Iranian plot against Trump.
He criticized the Biden administration for not holding Iran accountable for these actions, suggesting that the lack of a strong response has emboldened Tehran. “The Biden-Harris Administration must hold Iran accountable and make it clear that any attempt by Iran to murder former President Trump or members of his administration is an act of war.”
Critics of the Biden administration, including Turner, argue that the current US leadership has given Iran the "flexibility and freedom" to advance its nuclear ambitions and meddle in US elections.
Turner contrasted this with Trump's "maximum pressure campaign," which he claims had Iran "on the ropes" economically and militarily.
Another facet of the Iran issue that has captured media attention in recent weeks is Tehran's influence network in Washington. The controversy gained momentum as Vice President Kamala Harris has been accused of stonewalling questions about her national security adviser's purported ties to Iran.
Senator Tom Cotton accused the Biden-Harris administration of appeasing Iran, even as its proxies continue to attack Israel with impunity. "The ayatollahs should not have sympathizers in the White House," Cotton asserted.
As the election season heats up, the Republican focus on Iran is likely to intensify, with GOP candidates framing the issue as a matter of national security and a referendum on the Biden administration's foreign policy.
Speaking at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu issued a warning to Iran and Hezbollah, signaling Israel's readiness to defend itself against any threats from these adversaries.
"We are determined to defend ourselves, and we are also determined to extract a very heavy price from any enemy that dares to attack us, from any theater," Netanyahu stated.
He also underscored Israel’s commitment to its security principles, which he said will remain non-negotiable despite the complex nature of the peace talks. “We are conducting very complex negotiations,” Netanyahu said. “But I want to emphasize: We are conducting negotiations, and not give-and-give. There are areas where we can show flexibility, and there are areas where we can’t show flexibility — and we are standing firm on them. We know quite well how to distinguish between the two.”
These comments come as Israel continues to engage in indirect negotiations with Hamas, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. The talks, held in Doha over the past week, are aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. However, significant gaps remain between the two sides, particularly on the key issues of the Philadelphi Corridor, the Rafah Crossing, and the deployment of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza if an agreement is reached.
Netanyahu’s firm stance is consistent with the outline laid out by the White House in May, which has since been the basis for Israel’s negotiating position. Central to these principles is Israel's demand for control over critical border areas to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and ensure its long-term security. This demand has been a major sticking point in the talks, with Hamas refusing to agree to any arrangement that would allow Israeli forces to remain in Gaza after a potential ceasefire.
Despite the complexities of the negotiations, there has been some optimism among mediators. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Israel on Sunday for another round of talks, is expected to push for progress, especially since Joe Biden urgently needs the ceasefire as a legacy of his presidency.
However, Hamas has already cast doubt on the prospects of a breakthrough. In a statement released shortly after Blinken's arrival, the militant group accused Netanyahu of setting new conditions to deliberately sabotage the negotiations. “We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts and obstructing an agreement,” Hamas declared.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains volatile. Israeli fighter jets struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon on Sunday evening, in response to an attack on the Upper Galilee. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also reported ongoing rocket fire from Lebanon into northern Israel, further escalating the conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group allied with Hamas.
The broader regional implications of the conflict are becoming increasingly apparent. Iran, which has been a key supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah, has threatened retaliation following the assassination of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures in Tehran and Beirut, which it attributes to Israel. This escalation comes at a time when the international community is growing increasingly concerned about the potential for the conflict to spill over into a broader regional war.
Iran has reportedly postponed its retaliatory strike on Israel to avoid derailing the ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Gaza war. However, the Islamic Republic has tried to avoid expressing public support for the negotiations and even downplayed the US-led mediation efforts arguing that Washington cannot be an “impartial” mediator as it backs Israel.
Iranian authorities are also skeptical about the support expressed by some Western countries for the people of Israel. A report by the Tehran Times, an Iranian newspaper fully owned and controlled by the government, even claimed that France, Germany, and Britain are considering recognizing Palestine as a state, contingent on significant concessions from Iran, including its recognition of Israel and a halt to support for resistance groups in the region.
“The initiative proposed by Paris and endorsed by London and Berlin aims to offer additional protections for Israel but does not establish any conditions to safeguard Palestinians against Israel's apartheid policies in the occupied territories, its massacres in Gaza, the abuse of Palestinian prisoners, or the growing number of illegal settlements in the West Bank,” the report added.
If the initiative is implemented, wrote the Tehran Times, the European trio will join Norway, Ireland, and Spain, who earlier this year became the latest group of European countries to recognize Palestine as a state.