The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a threatening statement on its official Telegram channels over the weekend, stating that its goal was to develop atomic warheads and threaten to destroy New York. According to the official post, Iran "can immediately return to the Emad project and build an atom bomb if the Natanz facilities are attacked."
According to media reports, the comments made by the Iran regime’s paramilitary arm—the Revolutionary Guard, appeared on its linked Bismichi Media Telegram channel, with an accompanying video titled “When Will Iran’s Sleeping Nuclear Warheads Awaken?” In the short video, Tehran declared that it could use its peaceful nuclear program into a nuclear weapons program quickly if the United States or Israel made any careless mistakes. The video post further stated that Iran could "pulverize" New York and turn it into a "hellish ruin."
The IRGC also boasted that nuclear facilities in places like Fordow are built deep under the mountains of Iran, protected against trench-busting bombs and atomic explosions. The IRGC-linked Bismichi Media Telegram channel said that while the Natanz facility in the Isfahan province is vulnerable to an attack by Western and Israeli forces, other facilities can assume war footing and engage in rapid nuclear breakout projects. Officials in the video post addressed that Iran's enrichment process to build atomic weapons in underground facilities has allowed the regime to become a member of the international community's nuclear world powers.
Last week, Nasser Kanani, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, stated that Tehran would not rush into a quick nuclear deal with the West, adding that Iran would cooperate with talks if the U.S. acted "constructively and positively." In July, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abddollahian told reporters that Iran is seeking guarantees from the U.S. to be "stung twice" the same way under the previous administration.
According to many experts, such economic concessions would allow the Iranian government to have funds to support the government and the IRGC and terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The U.S. and Iran’s regime have recently stepped away from failed nuclear talks to revive the 2015 agreement created under the Obama Administration. The previous agreement stipulated that Iran would decrease its nuclear enrichment for civilian use and receive economic sanctions relief from the West. However, under the Trump Administration, the President and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revoked the agreement, enacting a policy of maximum pressure, citing the numerous violations committed under the regime.
Under the Biden administration, the President and his team have been committed to reviving the agreement to score a political win with Iran, engaging in numerous talks with Tehran officials in Vienna. However, negotiations are at a standstill, given that Iran officials have refused to surrender on threats to assassinate several former U.S. government officials in retaliation for the U.S. killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani.
According to media reports, White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk told a group of think tank experts several days ago that the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is unlikely.
Should Iran obtain a nuclear arsenal, national security experts believe it will conduct its revolutionary goals against American allies in the Middle East and feel empowered enough to act against the state of Israel. Under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Raisi, the Islamic Republic has made clear that it will attack Western powers like America harshly if they continue to stand against the regime.
