Report: Iran is preparing to continue testing nuclear bomb detonators

The report, citing three independent sources within Iran, states that Tehran plans to resume testing for nuclear bomb detonators. This comes amid a restructuring of the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), the body overseeing Iran’s military technology and nuclear weapons development, which remains under the leadership of Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

According to Ynet sources, the report indicates that Iran is not only focusing on producing triggers for nuclear bombs but also making strides in high-level uranium enrichment and developing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This intensification of nuclear activities marks a significant shift from previous U.S. intelligence assessments.

While earlier reports consistently stated that Iran was not engaged in key nuclear weapons development activities necessary for creating a testable device, the Director of National Intelligence’s 2024 report, released in July and cited by The Wall Street Journal, notably omits this reassurance. Instead, it reflects a growing concern that Iran’s activities are positioning it closer to the capability to produce a nuclear device if it decides to proceed.