As the US gears up for the 2024 presidential elections, Republicans are amplifying Iran concerns with GOP leaders saying Tehran may declare itself a nuclear weapons state this year.
On Sunday, Rep. Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, warned that Iran could declare itself a nuclear power "by the end of the year," a development he attributed to the Biden administration's lenient policies towards Tehran.
"What we see now with this administration, [Iran] might declare themselves a nuclear weapons state by the end of this year, with the reports have been- news reports have been out stating that there is a possibility," Turner said Sunday on CBS.
Turner, a Republican from Ohio, defended recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who has taken a softer tone on Iran while emphasizing the necessity of preventing the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. Last week, Trump said, "They can't have a nuclear weapon, and we were all set to make sure that they don't have a nuclear weapon," adding that the situation would drastically change if Iran were to achieve nuclear capability.
Iran's nuclear program has been a persistent source of global concern. While Tehran maintains its nuclear activities are purely civilian, the accelerating pace of uranium enrichment to levels far exceeding those required for energy production raises serious questions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly reported that Iran is not completely transparent about its nuclear advancements, but the international community's response has been largely limited to US-led sanctions.
Iran International reported last week that the country is intensifying its covert nuclear weapons program, bringing it closer than ever to developing a nuclear bomb. These claims echo earlier statements by high-ranking Iranian officials. Ali-Akbar Salehi, former head of Iran's nuclear agency, cryptically implied in early 2024 that Iran possesses all the components necessary for a nuclear weapon. Similarly, Kamal Kharrazi, a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, admitted in 2022 that Iran has the technical capability to build a nuclear bomb but insisted it has no such intention.
These statements, coupled with the regime's increasingly assertive rhetoric, paint a disturbing picture of a country determined to expand its nuclear capabilities.
Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly stated that according to a fatwa (Islamic decree) by the Supreme Leader, the construction of an atomic bomb is not on Tehran's agenda. However, few in the international community believe in a fatwa that can be revoked at any moment.
In an interview with Iran International in February, leading nuclear weapons expert David Albright warned that this is the time when “Iran may decide to make nuclear weapons.”
According to Rep. Turner, "There is a possibility" that the Supreme Leader changes his decision and “Iran declares itself a nuclear weapon state by the end of the year.”
The concern over Iran's influence extends beyond its nuclear program. Turner highlighted recent reports of Iranian cyberattacks targeting the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, as well as an alleged Iranian plot against Trump.
He criticized the Biden administration for not holding Iran accountable for these actions, suggesting that the lack of a strong response has emboldened Tehran. “The Biden-Harris Administration must hold Iran accountable and make it clear that any attempt by Iran to murder former President Trump or members of his administration is an act of war.”
Critics of the Biden administration, including Turner, argue that the current US leadership has given Iran the "flexibility and freedom" to advance its nuclear ambitions and meddle in US elections.
Turner contrasted this with Trump's "maximum pressure campaign," which he claims had Iran "on the ropes" economically and militarily.
Another facet of the Iran issue that has captured media attention in recent weeks is Tehran's influence network in Washington. The controversy gained momentum as Vice President Kamala Harris has been accused of stonewalling questions about her national security adviser's purported ties to Iran.
Senator Tom Cotton accused the Biden-Harris administration of appeasing Iran, even as its proxies continue to attack Israel with impunity. "The ayatollahs should not have sympathizers in the White House," Cotton asserted.
As the election season heats up, the Republican focus on Iran is likely to intensify, with GOP candidates framing the issue as a matter of national security and a referendum on the Biden administration's foreign policy.