Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the NRF denies allegations that Ahmed Masoud requested "Israel’s" help.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 300 settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The IOF is preventing journalists from entering the Qattanin Gate to prevent them from reporting on the raids.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 2,900 settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in recent days.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Occupation forces deploy near Bab al-Qattanin, one of the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Settlers storm the alleys of the Old City in occupied Al-Quds in large groups on the fifth day of “Throne Day.”
Kevin McCarthy ousted as leader of US House by his Republican party
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The ousting decision requires a simple majority in the House of Representatives of 214 votes
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: US House of Representatives begins voting on decision to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy
Tunisian Free Constitutional Party: Party chief Abir Moussi was arrested and taken to an unknown destination

Iran could have made nukes years ago if it wanted: Marandi

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Dec 2022 19:10
  • 1 Shares
  • x

The advisor to the Iranian negotiating nuclear team Mohammad Marandi says his country could have developed nuclear weapons years ago if it wanted to.

  • Iranian workers stand in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, October 26, 2010 (Reuters)
    Iranian workers stand in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, October 26, 2010 (Reuters)

The Islamic Republic of Iran could have made nuclear weapons a year ago had it wanted to possess nuclear weapons, the advisor to the Iranian negotiating nuclear team Mohammad Marandi told RT on Friday, highlighting that Tehran has the capabilities to build a nuclear arsenal but refused to.

"Iran could develop a nuclear weapon. It has that capability. It has had that capability for many years now, but it has decided not to do so," Marandi stressed when asked what difference would it make if Iran joined the roster of countries and entities that have nuclear weapons.

"In fact, one good reason to show that Iran is honest and Americans are dishonest is that during the negotiations in Vienna, the Americans and Europeans were constantly saying that 'the Iranian nuclear program has advanced too far. There is no more time for negotiations; we have to finish the negotiations now and strike a deal, otherwise, it will be too late'," Marandi explained.

The Iranian advisor then went on to highlight how the West was "constantly making threats and warning the international community about the threat of the Iranian peaceful nuclear program."

"Ever since they left the negotiating table, they have stopped making all of these warnings, putting out these warnings about the Iranian nuclear program. They are saying nothing, they are focused on Ukraine now. So if the Iranian nuclear program was such a threat, we should constantly be hearing the same language coming out from Europe and the United States that there is some sort of imminent threat. There is none, because they were lying - we all know they are lying," Marandi noted.

"It is clear that the Iranian nuclear program was peaceful, but the Europeans and Americans were using the Iranian nuclear program as a means to isolate Iran, marginalize Iran, and to direct accusations against the country, as they do with regards to human rights [...] their antagony toward Iran is so immense that they will always find someway to demonize the country," he concluded.

Related News

Ecuador grants US military green light for operations

Shooting in Baltimore leaves at least 4 wounded: US

Over the past year and a half, efforts have been mobilized to revive the JCPOA deal after then-President Donald Trump, with encouragement from then-Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had America withdraw from it in 2018 - stating that the agreement was "a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," claiming that "it didn't bring calm, it didn't bring peace, and it never will."

The original JCPOA was signed in 2015 by China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.

However, just weeks after the deal seemed to have died, the EU put forward on August 8 what it called a final text to restore the agreement, in which Iran would see sanctions relief and be able to sell its oil again in return for severe limits on its nuclear program.

In an interview with Foreign Policy in late November, US special envoy for Iran Robert Malley said that Iran is "only a few weeks" away from enriching the fissile material needed to develop a nuclear weapon.

The US envoy seems to insist that the Islamic Republic is keen on acquiring the weapon despite that Iran has several times expressed in the past that it is in no way part of its military agenda.

Malley further stated that such a situation has ensued due to the reckless decision of former US President Donald Trump to pull out of the JCPOA agreement. 

Meanwhile, it was revealed days ago that US President Joe Biden declared on the sidelines of a November 4 election rally that the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is "dead," according to a new video that surfaced on social media, but stressed the United States won't announce it.

This counts as the Biden administration's strongest confirmation that there's no path forward for the Iran deal, which leaves key questions about the future of the JCPOA.

  • United States
  • Iran nuclear deal
  • IAEA
  • JCPOA
  • Mohammad Marandi
  • Vienna talks
  • Joe Biden
  • Iran
  • Iran nuclear program

Most Read

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
A Ukrainian soldier of the elite drone unit packs up after an attack on the front line in the outskirts of Kremennaya, Ukraine, Sunday, August 20, 2023 (AP)

Ukraine loses around 700 soldiers in one day: Russia MoD

  • Europe
  • 30 Sep 2023
Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

Who Would Ally with the West: ‘It’s Boring – The Real Excitement is in Asia’

  • Analysis
  • 30 Sep 2023
A child being treated in a makeshift ICU bed in California in 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Children are dying in US hospitals plagued with ill-prepared ERs: WSJ

  • US & Canada
  • 2 Oct 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
People protest in Swedia, Syria on September 15, 2023. (AFP)
MENA

'Israel' proposes arming Sweida protesters via Jordan: Reports

Indigenous Xikrin warriors in the Para State of the Brazilian Amazon in August 2019 (AP)
Latin America

Brazil expels illegal settlers from Indigenous lands in Para state

Black Hawk Down: America's history in ending organic truces in Somalia
Africa

Black Hawk Down: America's history in reviving wars in Somalia

UN approves Haiti force after year of pleas
Latin America

UN approves Haiti Kenyan-led force amid Chinese skepticism

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS