Does Iran have a nuclear weapon?
As far as is known, no. But it does have an advanced nuclear fuel cycle that could deliver bomb-grade fissile material. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has found no evidence that Iran has diverted nuclear materials into a military programme. Independent analysts believe Iran is between one and five years away from obtaining nuclear weapons. Why might Iran want nuclear weapons? From the Iranian point of view, a nuclear weapon would deter US-led attempts at “regime change”. George Bush included Iran in his “axis of evil” along with North Korea and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Non-nuclear Iraq was invaded, while nuclear-armed North Korea has not been. Moreover, Iran bestrides an increasingly nuclear-armed region. The Americans are in next-door Afghanistan and Iraq. Israel, Pakistan, India, and Russia are nuclear-armed. If Shia Iran gets the bomb, Sunni Saudi Arabia may want to follow suit. Is Iran breaking its international obligations? As a signatory to the 1970 nuclear n
