The US will not allow fielded nuclear weapons in Iran - says Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley

Washington: US Defense Forces Chief General Mark Milley said that Iran, which enriches Uranium to dangerous levels, could obtain the fuel needed for a nuclear bomb in two weeks and produce a nuclear bomb within several more months. But no matter what happens, the US is firm not allowing a nuclear bomb to enter Iran’s fleet, he added. The United States had previously taken the stand that it would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear bomb. But General Milley’s announcement that he will not allow fielded nuclear weapons, i.e. will not allow the nuclear weapons to enter Iran’s fleet, has surprised analysts. Moreover, analysts and the media have been claiming that this indicates a change in the stance of the Biden administration.

Ten days ago, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed shocking information about Iran’s nuclear programme. It said Iran had produced 86% of the enriched Uranium at the Fordow nuclear plant. About 90% enriched Uranium and centrifuges are required to make nuclear bombs. Therefore, the agency had predicted that Iran might have reached closer to producing a nuclear bomb. After this, US opposition leaders and analysts demanded action from the Biden administration, stating that Iran’s nuclear programme had reached a dangerous level.

Also, US Congressional Hearing Committee asked tough questions about Iran’s nuclear programme to Defense Chief General Mark Milley. General Milley’s answers at that time raised the eyebrows of the analysts. Besides, Iran’s nuclear programme poses a threat to the US and US interests in the Gulf. Therefore, the earlier position of the United States was that it would accept the option of military action to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Israel, Saudi Arabia and Arab allies welcomed this stance of the US.

But General Milley, speaking before a Congressional Hearing Committee, expressed his determination not to allow it to reach its fleet instead of preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Hence, the Biden administration seems to have made a big change in its stance on Iran; a British-based Iranian news agency drew attention to this. The news agency says the Biden administration’s stance on Iran has been unclear.

Dennis Ross, a former US diplomat and Gulf analyst, noted that maybe General Mark Milley was wrong or that the US’s role is to try and prevent nuclear weapons from entering Iran’s fleet rather than preventing Iran from producing a nuclear bomb henceforth. Last month, a senior US Department of Defense official, Colin Kahl, said it would take several months for Iran to obtain the necessary fuel for a nuclear bomb. But other analysts say General Milley caused a stir by saying Iran could acquire nuclear fuel in just two weeks.

Furthermore, US opposition leaders have criticised the Biden administration’s stance on Iran has become dangerous for the US’s Gulf allies and that countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia do not see the US as a reliable ally. In such a situation, the head of the US Defense Forces has shown that the policy of our country regarding the nuclear bomb of Iran is still unclear.

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