As the clerical regime in Iran faces mounting international pressure with a new U.S. administration promising maximum sanctions, an Iranian MP has publicly urged Tehran to conduct a nuclear test, signaling a shift toward a more aggressive nuclear posture. Conservative MP Ahmad Naderi took to social media platform X on November 9 to demand an “immediate nuclear test” as a means of achieving “maximum deterrence,” adding that the test announcement “is overdue.”
Referring to recent claims that Iran successfully tested an intercontinental missile from Shahroud, Naderi argued that such activities have been a routine part of Iran’s deterrence strategy. However, he emphasized that the next step, which “must be taken soon,” is the testing and official announcement of a nuclear bomb. “What needs to be done is clear: a nuclear test and a public declaration of it,” Naderi stated, pushing for a policy that would enhance Iran’s position in the face of what he describes as regional and global threats.
#Iranian Regime Escalates #Nuclear Threats as Diplomatic Efforts and Calls for Islamic Unity Failhttps://t.co/5H710VjrCg
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) October 9, 2024
This rhetoric comes amid a backdrop of intensified nuclear discourse within Iran’s leadership, with some officials voicing support for revisiting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s alleged fatwa against nuclear weapons. As reported recently, multiple Iranian MPs have submitted a letter to the Supreme National Security Council advocating for a “review and update” of Iran’s defense strategy to incorporate nuclear deterrence. Hassanali Akhlaqi, another member of parliament, hinted at a potential shift in the fatwa, suggesting that “in Shia jurisprudence, time and circumstances can lead to changes in rulings.”
Naderi’s statement underscores the Iranian regime’s struggle to maintain internal stability and regional power while balancing against new U.S. pressures. Past diplomatic efforts have faltered, and calls for Islamic unity by the regime’s Supreme Leader Khamenei have not alleviated Tehran’s geopolitical isolation. Tehran’s long-standing strategy of nuclear brinkmanship has served as leverage against Western powers for decades, extracting concessions while advancing its enrichment capabilities. Yet, this aggressive push toward nuclear capabilities highlights an apparent pivot as the regime braces for tougher international scrutiny and sanctions from Washington.
