Tehran has acquired nuclear weapons, according to an Iranian lawmaker.

The UN's atomic watchdog agency's head warned that Iran has enough uranium to create "several" nuclear bombs, and a firebrand Iranian lawmaker declared on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses atomic weapons.

According to Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, who spoke to Rouydad 24 on Friday, our possession of nuclear weapons is a matter of policy, but we do not publicly announce it. Our declared policy is currently in line with the JCPOA framework.

The JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is the official name for the Iran nuclear deal. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018, citing that it failed to prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

The JCPOA offers significant economic sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for promises not to construct a nuclear weapon within a specified timeframe.

In March, Ardestani, who was re-elected to Iran's quasi-parliament, stated, "Iran must have nuclear weapons because its capabilities must be compatible with those of America and Israel when countries want to confront one another."

The Iranian parliament member stated that given the current climate, with Russia attacking Ukraine and Israel attacking Gaza, and Iran supporting the Resistance Front, it is natural for the containment system to necessitate that Iran possess nuclear bombs. However, whether Iran declares it or not is a separate issue. Planet Chronicle Digital sent press queries to Iran's Foreign Ministry in Tehran and its U.N. mission in New York.

The U.S.-based United Against a Nuclear Iran's policy director, Jason Brodsky, cautioned against taking Ardestani's comments seriously as he is not a key figure in Iran's nuclear decision-making circle, despite being a member of parliament.

Two days before Ardestani's announcement, the president of the Iranian Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, stated in an interview with Al-Jazeera Network Qatar that Iran had the capability to produce a nuclear bomb. However, he emphasized that Iran had not made the decision to produce a nuclear bomb. Kharrazi also mentioned that if Iranian interests were threatened, the country may change its doctrine regarding nuclear facilities. The U.S.-based Middle East Media Institute (MEMRI) translated and published Kharrazi's May 8 interview.

According to Brodsky, Kharrazi's remarks are part of a growing number of threats from Iranian officials that they will alter their nuclear doctrine if Israel attacks them. With their advanced nuclear program, Iran has the ability to make these threats in the hopes of deterring Western policymakers from applying pressure on Tehran.

The Biden administration's Iran policy has failed to prevent the regime from acquiring an operational nuclear weapon, according to critics who argue that the de-escalation and containment strategy targeting Iran's atomic program has backfired.

The report from Germany's most populous state, Nordrhein-Westfalen, reveals that nuclear security alarms are sounding over Iran's illicit atomic program in Europe.

The German intelligence report states that Iran continues to intensively purchase nuclear and missile-related materials in Germany, despite ongoing sanctions. German experts believe that Iran is still attempting to circumvent these sanctions in order to advance its nuclear and missile programs. A State Department spokesperson previously told Planet Chronicle Digital that the United States will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that all options remain on the table.

David Wurmser, a former senior adviser for nonproliferation and Middle East strategy for former Vice President Dick Cheney, stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the distance from where Iran is believed to be to a deliverable device is still significant, given the accuracy of the information available. However, he added that this is subject to change, as there is evidence that North Koreans have been interacting with the Iranians, and their relationship goes back many years.

In 2007, Israel's air force destroyed Syria's illicit nuclear reactor, which was previously aided by North Korea.

Wurmser cautioned, "Since intelligence is often incomplete and driven to uncover what is obscured, we must anticipate surprises. We assumed there was more to the Iraq war than what was initially understood, but it was still a rare occurrence. Similarly, the Pakistani, Russian, Chinese, Indian, and South African programs all exceeded our expectations when exposed. This was also the case with Libya."

The non-proliferation expert stated that although he believes Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon, the program's stability is uncertain, particularly in terms of weaponization. He added that Iran is determined to continue its efforts and go all the way, with time running out quickly. The consequences of an Iranian bomb would be disastrous for the region, Israel's survival, and the status of American power globally.

The coincidence of the recent saber-rattling over Iran's nuclear weapons program from regime officials and lawmakers with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi's May 8 statement that his organization was working "very hard with [Iran] to prevent [nuclear weaponization] from happening" highlights the ongoing tension between the international community and Iran over its nuclear program.

The Institute for the Study of War in Washington D.C. claims that Iran has or is near obtaining the capability to acquire nuclear weapons. The U.S. State Department did not respond to a Planet Chronicle Digital query for comment.