The Islamic Republic is ready to build an atomic weapon at a moment's notice, according to Iranian officials who now speak openly about it.
It is possible that the remarks are meant to force more concessions from the U.S. Analysts warn that Iran could reach a point like North Korea did 20 years ago when it decided having the ultimate weapon was more important than international sanctions.
As Iran, the U.S. and the European Union prepare for a snap summit that appears to be a last-ditch effort to revive Tehran's tattered nuclear deal, all this could be put to the test. A video on the internet suggests the country's missiles could turn New York into a pile of rubble.
There is a distinct verbal escalation from Tehran.
In a few days, we were able to enrich up to 60 percent and we could easily produce 90 percent enriched nuclear fuel. Iran has the means to make a nuclear bomb but has not decided to do so, according to an adviser to the supreme leader. Weapons grade is defined as enriched at least 90%.
Iran's culture minister wrote in Iran's Etemad daily newspaper that the announcement that Iran could make a nuclear weapon provided a "moral lesson" for Israel and the US.
The head of Iran's civilian nuclear agency made a comment about a possible military aspect to Iran's program.
Iran has the ability to make an atomic bomb, but there is no plan to do so, according to Eslami.
Iran'socracy probably didn't want Eslami to have been so specific, as his agency later said he had been "misunderstood and misjudged". Eslami's threat carries more weight than others because he's worked for Iranian defense agencies that are linked to Iran's military nuclear program.
The U.S. intelligence agencies said in 2003 that Iran had stopped its military nuclear program. Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction claims were used to justify the US's invasion of Iraq. The US was at war in Afghanistan.
Moammar Gadhafi gave up Libya's nuclear program because it relied on the same equipment that Tehran used.
Iran received economic sanctions relief as a result of its nuclear deal with world powers. Under the deal, Tehran was able to enrich to 3.61% and keep a large amount of nuclear material under constant scrutiny.
Donald Trump withdrew the US from the accord because he said he would negotiate a better deal that included Tehran's missile program. The man didn't. There were attacks on land, at sea and in the air. Iran broke the deal's terms after one year.
Iran has a large amount of enriched nuclear material. Iran's enrichment of up to 60% purity is a technical step away from being a nuclear power. Iran has enough enriched uranium to make a nuclear bomb, according to experts.
Iranian diplomats have said for years that the fatwa that Iran wouldn't build an atomic bomb was issued by the supreme leader.
Nuclear bombs are not needed. According to a transcript from his office, Iran's supreme leader said in a speech in November 2006 that they had no intention of using a nuke. We don't want to dominate the world by force and need a nuclear bomb. Our faith is based on our nuclear bomb.
It's not written in stone. After taking power following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini revised his previous statements. The fatwas issued by the country's supreme leader can be revised by anyone who follows him.
Iran will keep using the atomic threat for now. Public opinion seems to be changing.
IranPoll, a Toronto-based firm, conducted a survey in July suggesting that a third of the Iranian public now supports abandoning the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Less than one in 10 people were in favor of it.
There was a 3 percentage point margin of error for the firm's two polls.
The missile threat on New York was made in a video recently posted online by an account believed to be associated with the Revolutionary Guard of Iran. Iran is one step away from a nuclear breakthrough and could join other countries that have nuclear weapons.
What is the title of the video? Is it possible that Iran's nuclear bombs will be awakened from their slumber?
That's right.
Jon Gambrell, the news director for the Gulf and Iran for The Associated Press, has reported from each of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Iran and other locations across the world. He can be followed at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP
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