Tehran hardline newspaper calls for nuclear deterrence against Israel

Following the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, a hardline Tehran newspaper is calling for a significant shift in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear doctrine, advocating for a major “transformation.”

On October 1, Iran launched a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel, citing the need to defend its national interests following Israeli strikes against its primary military proxy, Hezbollah, in Lebanon. In response, Israel has vowed a forceful retaliation.

As Iran braces for Israeli retaliation, the Javan newspaper, representing the Islamic Republic’s ultra-hardliners, argued on Thursday that it is time for Iran to revise its nuclear doctrine, which has long claimed the country is solely focused on peaceful objectives.

In a note written by Ali Ghannadi, Javan emphasized that "while Iran's nuclear doctrine over the past fifty-plus years (including the Pahlavi era) has been focused on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, today Tehran has the capacity, context, and opportunity for an immediate transformation in this program."

The note argued that conventional attacks on Israel fail to provide adequate deterrence, "given the resolve of Israeli leaders to use devastating military technology to establish a new order. This approach risks escalating the conflict even further. While some may propose creative solutions to manage the situation, one immediate option is a shift in Iran's nuclear doctrine."

The article noted that if the escalating confrontation and mutual attacks lead to a point when Israel faces and existential threat, would its government issue a nuclear threat against Iran? “Is the possibility of Israel issuing a clear or secret nuclear ultimatum out of the question?"

The hardliner newspaper went on to argue that Iran needs a deterrence against Israel’s overwhelming technological advantage, hinting at what could be interpreted as mutual nuclear deterrence.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is expected to deliver a sermon during Friday prayers in Tehran on October 4, with speculation that he may unveil a new nuclear doctrine following the severe damage to Hezbollah, Iran’s key proxy force. Currently, Iran is amassing a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, which could be refined to 90%—the level needed for a nuclear bomb—in just two weeks. A shift in Iran's nuclear doctrine could signal an open move to enrich uranium to 90%, threatening the development of a nuclear weapon if Israel targets its vital interests.

Nearly a dozen nuclear sites in Iran are potential targets in an Israeli attack aiming to destroy or cripple Tehran atomic program, specifically its enrichment centers in places like Natanz.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Tuesday for the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program following the Iranian missile attack.

“Israel has now its greatest opportunity in 50 years, to change the face of the Middle East,” Bennett said on his X account.

“We must act ‘now’ to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, its central energy facilities, and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime.”