IRAN is said to be on the brink of developing devastating nuclear weapons after Donald Trump threatened to bomb the regime “like never before”.
The boss of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a top nuclear watchdog, warned that Iran is “not far away” from getting their hands on nuclear weapons.
AFPAn Iranian rocket launches from an undisclosed location[/caption]
GettyIran exhibits its missiles and satellite-carrying rockets[/caption]
EPAAyatollah Ali Khamenei speaking during a meeting in Tehran[/caption]
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) talking with Omani counterpart Barr Bin Hamed Al Busaidi, for indirect talks between Iran and the US
His statements come after the US and Iran finished their first round of indirect talks in Oman to discuss a new nuclear agreement for the Iranian regime.
Tehran was slapped with a chilling deadline to either hold direct talks and sign a new nuclear agreement or potentially face military action.
But Khamenei strongly refused to agree to Trump’s demands, saying that Iran will not engage in any direct negotiations with the US.
The snub saw a furious Trump rip into the regime and threaten to strike Iran.
Defying expectations of a fiery confrontation, their meeting in Oman was instead held “in a constructive atmosphere”, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
The Middle Eastern country also said that after two-and-a-half hours of indirect talks, Iranian diplomat Abbas Aragchi and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff actually spoke directly.
They added that discussions would continue next week.
However, Rafael Grossi, the Director General for the IAEA, warned the world that Iran could be closer than we think towards completing a successful nuclear test aimed at military use.
In an interview with Le Monde, he said: It’s like a puzzle: they have the pieces and maybe one day they could put them back together.
“There’s still a long way to go before they get there.
“But they’re not far away, we have to admit that.
“You can’t just tell the international community ‘we don’t have nuclear weapons, and they’ll believe it. We have to be able to verify it.”
A senior Israeli politician in Jerusalem told The Sun it is more important now than ever to stop Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump said he would slap Tehran with further sanctions under his administration’s maximum pressure policy to cripple its economy.
Trump told NBC: “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.
“It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to Trump’s threat, saying the US would receive a strong blow if they decide to act.
Khamenei said: “The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there.
“They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief, they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow.
“And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country, as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them.”
AFPThe Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi[/caption]
Mounting fears came as Donald Trump launched blistering threats on Iran
GettyFears of an ‘inevitable’ war breaking out between the US and Iran have severely escalated in recent weeks[/caption]
Iran’s accelerates nuclear development
Exclusive by Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter (Digital)
IRAN is believed to have accelerated its nuclear weapons development and is building terrifying nuclear warheads for solid-fuel missiles with a range exceeding 1,800 miles (3,000km).
A powerful blast from Iran could impact on several continents due to the chilling capability of the warheads.
Italy, Ukraine, Sudan, India and even large swaths of Russia would all potentially be in the firing line.
They are being developed at two sites in Shahrud and Semnan, which were previously pinned as rocket or space satellite launch sites.
A third site, Sorkheh Hesar, is also said to be carrying out projects, including research on nuclear power and underground explosions.
Nukes are being quickly created under the watchful eye of the regime’s nuclear weaponization entity, the Organization for Advanced Defense Research (SPND).
Bosses are developing nuclear warheads for the solid-fuel Ghaem-100 missiles, which are equipped with mobile launch platforms at the Shahrud site.
Iran’s rocket designers have used North Korea’s missiles as a guide to develop the Ghaem-100 missile.
When the missile was in a very early testing stage in 2011, dozens of missile experts were killed at the Modarres site in Tehran.
Personnel vehicles are banned from entering the Shahrud site and are forced to park at a checkpoint before people are transported in.
Meanwhile, they are using the liquid fuel missile Simorgh to develop nuclear warheads in Semnan.
Iran has staged three successful Ghaem-100 missile launches over the past two years, enhancing the regime’s capability to deploy nuclear weapons.
LOCKING TARGETS
The war of words came as the US amassed at least five B-2 strategic bombers on the British island of Diego Garcia – all aimed at Iran.
Iran is over 2,300 miles from where the bombers are stationed – but the B-2s have a massive 6,900-mile range.
The heavy bombers can obliterate targets with their huge 25-tonne bomb payload per jet.
It had been thought the five B-2 Spirit bombers were aimed at Yemen and the Houthi terror group after Trump launched strikes against them two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, reports also emerged revealing Tehran’s preparation for a potential US strike.
Iran is said to be readying itself by setting up missiles with the capability to strike US positions, The Tehran Times revealed.
A significant number of these weapons are located in underground facilities scattered across the country, designed to withstand airstrikes.
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