Iran and Nuclear Weapons: A Timeline and Assessment
June 2023: US Intelligence Assessment
In June 2023, the US Director of National Intelligence released an assessment concluding that Iran was not actively developing nuclear weapons, despite its previous efforts to do so.
Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
Iran has a long-standing nuclear program, which has raised concerns about its potential development of nuclear weapons.
The US intelligence assessment acknowledged that Iran had the technical capability to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for five nuclear bombs within a year if it chose to do so.
Uranium Enrichment
Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity, which is significantly higher than the 5% level used for civilian purposes.
If Iran were to further enrich uranium to 90% purity, it would have enough weapons-grade material for two nuclear bombs.
Iran's Missile Capabilities
Iran possesses a range of missiles that could potentially be used to deliver nuclear weapons.
The table below provides an overview of the capabilities of Iran's most relevant missiles:
| Missile | Range | Payload |
|---|---|---|
| Ghadr-110 | 1,500 km | 1,000 kg |
| Qiam-1 | 850 km | 500 kg |
| Shahab-3 | 1,300 km | 1,200 kg |
Sources and References
- US Director of National Intelligence - Iran Nuclear Developments Report
- International Atomic Energy Agency - Iran Nuclear Assessment
- Council on Foreign Relations - Iran's Nuclear Program: What You Need to Know
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