Iran has issued a terrifying nuclear weapons warning in an update on the country’s stockpile following international concerns that its harbouring weapons of mass destruction.
The ongoing conflict with Israel has put Tel Aviv on high alert as it anticipates an attack from Tehran, and there are wider fears that the Middle East is heading closer to an all-out war.
As these tensions escalate in the background, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken out about the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, which has so far remained vague, only heightening fears of a war.
While Esmail Baghaei did maintain that Iran “rejects weapons on mass destruction”, he did however caution that the country will use weapons “to the extent necessary” to defend itself.
He said: “The official stance of Iran in rejecting weapons of mass destruction and regarding the peaceful nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program is clear.
“As emphasised in the recent speech by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, we will equip ourselves to the extent necessary for the defence of Iran.”
On October 26, Israel utilised air-launched ballistic missiles against Iran, hitting missile factories and air defences in three waves of strikes.
Israel is now bracing for a response, with Baghaei adding Iran will use all of its “material and spiritual resources to respond to the recent aggressions by the Zionist regime”.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed this sentiment, calling for a “tooth-breaking response” to not just Israel, but the United States also, as it routinely sends aid to Tel Aviv.
He said: “The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front.”
Khamenei’s adviser, Kamal Kharrazi, also terrifyingly warned of a possible change to the country’s secretive nuclear doctrine.
He said: “If an existential threat arises, Iran will modify its nuclear doctrine. We have the capability to build weapons and have no issue in this regard. The only thing currently prohibiting this is the leader’s fatwa.”
The continued exchange of fire between Iran and Israel has caused widespread fears of a full-on war, with a YouGov Eurotrack Survey revealing that the majority of respondents fear a wider Middle Eastern conflict.
The poll surveyed people in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and strong majorities in all seven countries fear war.
The biggest majority was in Spain, with 82% predicting a war, and the lowest was in France with 65%.
