Iranian state media has warned the country has "no choice" but to build a nuclear weapon, posing a grave threat to the Trump peace deal with Tehran.

23:44, Sun, Jun 28, 2026 Updated: 23:49, Sun, Jun 28, 2026

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Iranian state news source Fars published an article titled No choice but to build the atomic bomb (Image: MEHR NEWS/AFP via Getty Images)

A media outlet affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the country has "no choice" but to develop a nuclear weapon, presenting the gravest threat yet to any prospective peace deal.

Iranian state news agency Fars published a piece entitled "No choice but to build the atomic bomb" on Sunday, asserting that Iran must engage its adversaries from a position of strength.

The article states, "To achieve the peace and calm that Iran needs, it must absolutely reach nuclear deterrence to ensure that the rest of the issues can be resolved through negotiation."

It proceeds to draw parallels between Iran's relationship with the US and that of China during the 1970s.

"America threatened China with nuclear attack twice - similar to Trump's recent nuclear threats against Iran - but when did Kissinger secretly meet with the Chinese and then negotiate? It was when China built the atomic bomb," the piece continues.

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"Nuclear deterrence means that you can reach a balance of power against America and Israel, who possess atomic bombs - not so that war does not happen, but so that the scope of conflict remains controllable," it adds.

Iran agreed to permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to resume access to its nuclear facilities following a halt to inspections last year, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Washington and Tehran earlier this month. Additionally, it pledged to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

The US has called on Iran to suspend all nuclear enrichment for 20 years.

This follows the IAEA chief's insistence that his inspectors be granted full access to Iran's nuclear facilities in order to monitor the programme.

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"The government of Iran has affirmed quite clearly that [developing nuclear weapons] is not their intention, but of course, intentions are not enough," IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told reporters on Friday.

"In order to have certainty, we need to have a very strong system of verification as soon as practicable," he added.

Iran has yet to permit access to the nuclear installations that President Trump destroyed in 2025, though it did commit to allowing IAEA inspectors to return in September.

The country's enriched uranium stockpiles remain unaccounted for. Iranian officials have also thrown their weight behind what they describe as the nation's right to self-defence, echoing calls from state media.

In a statement on X on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, "Iran's military capabilities ensure the Iranian people's inherent right to legitimate self-defense in the face of aggression and crimes, while at the same time guaranteeing peace and stability in the region."

Baghaei then turned his fire on Iran's Gulf neighbours.

In his statement, Baghaei accused the Gulf states of "engaging in aggression against their Muslim neighbor" and "remaining silent regarding the Israeli nuclear arsenal."