Gen. Shamkhani: If I Could Go Back a Decade, I Would Definitely Build an Atomic Bomb
WANA (Oct 12) – Ali Shamkhani, former Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—who was reportedly one of Israel’s assassination targets during the recent twelve-day imposed war between Israel and Iran—made a controversial remark in his latest interview for an Iranian documentary program. He stated that if he could go back in time to the 1990s, he would have pursued the development of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that “it has now been proven that Iran should have possessed an atomic bomb.”
Shamkhani went on to discuss a range of sensitive issues, including the possible foreign involvement in the assassination of Ayatollah Raisi, the downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane, Tehran’s military responses, and the country’s missile, defense, and naval capabilities.
Expressing what he called his “strategic regret” over Iran’s nuclear delay, Shamkhani said: “I wish I had thought about building a nuclear bomb in the 1990s; if I could go back, I would definitely pursue nuclear weapons.” He added that, in his view, it has now become clear that Iran should have had that capability.
Fordow: A Target for a Tactical Nuclear Bomb?
WANA (Jul 11) – A member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has spoken of an incident which, if true, would mark a turning point in Iran’s regional security dynamics: the use of a tactical nuclear bomb against the Fordow nuclear facility. Abolfazl Zohrevand has claimed that the recent U.S.-Israeli strike on […]
In another part of the interview, Shamkhani addressed a question about the possible foreign involvement in Ayatollah Raisi’s assassination, stating that the General Staff of the Armed Forces and investigative committees “found no sign of any internal incident aboard the flight up to the very last moment.” However, he added, “the cause of the incident may be beyond our technical assessment,” and therefore, foreign involvement “cannot be ruled out with absolute certainty.”
Shamkhani, regarding the incident of the Ukrainian plane crash in Iran (on January 08, 2020), said that after being informed by Late General Baqeri, he immediately passed the matter on to the then-President (Hassan Rouhani) and attributed the three-day delay in officially announcing the results of the investigations to the need to examine “various possibilities,” including the hypothesis of an American electronic-warfare operation.
He emphasized the weight of the grief of the victims’ families, saying that at the burial ceremonies, he faced harsh reactions from some families but that he understood them.
Ukrainian flight tragedy, questions remained after 3 years
WANA (JAN 8) – Three years after Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran, there are still unanswered questions about the tragic incident. Based on an analysis, more than the issue of the plane’s downing and the victims who perished in the sad event […]
In the military sphere, Shamkhani reviewed Iran’s performance in responding to regional attacks and described the strike on the Ayn al-Asad base as a “swift, hard and credible response,” which, he said, sent a clear message to alter the calculations of the opposing side. He stated that responses are not necessarily limited to missile launches and that a variety of instruments must be employed.
The former Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, referring to the experience of the “tanker war” with Israel, said Iran once “defeated” an Israeli rival at sea and has naval power and capabilities that remain unrecognized by the enemy; however, he warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz is an option to be used only in terminal circumstances and after a decisive decision, and said, “we have not yet reached that stage.”
Ali Shamkhani acknowledged defensive capabilities: “missile policy had been correct from the beginning and indigenization was achieved; drones and naval capabilities have also advanced, but we started late in air defense, and this shortcoming must be corrected. He also stated, referring to the experience of the Twelve-Day War, that Iran’s response capability has seen significant growth over four decades.
Revisiting Iran’s Presidential Helicopter Crash: Truth or Rumors?
WANA (Dec 18) – The helicopter crash of Iran’s late president near the village of Owzi in Varzeqan, northern East Azerbaijan Province, remains a topic of speculation, with some continuing to present alternative narratives and rumors. The incident, which occurred during adverse weather conditions, was met with a wave of speculation and misinformation from the […]
In response to the question of why he had been on Israel’s assassination list, he said: “The enemy targets the producers of defensive power. Israel has gone beyond targeted assassination and believes that anyone who plays a role in strengthening military or resistance capabilities must be eliminated.”
He referred to the record of regional targeted assassinations and emphasized: “The record of assassinations in Iraq, Egypt and the West Bank shows that the physical elimination of personnel who produce power has been part of a strategy to contain and prevent the growth of Iran’s capabilities,” and he warned that key defense capability targets are within range.
He also commented on the role and cooperation of foreign actors, stating that Iran is “alone” in many areas and that Russia, due to its own conflicts, has not been able to be a fully committed partner; previous proposals for defense cooperation also failed to result in full collaboration because of technical and political issues.
In conclusion, Shamkhani warned about the impact of the full support provided by the West and the United States to Israel after October 7, saying that if it were not for such backing, the consequences of the war would not have been so extensive.
He noted that some errors and technical shortcomings in the early stages of operations (such as True Promise 1 and 2) temporarily misled the adversary’s calculations, but subsequent corrections and improvements in operational precision have since taken place.
