US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently highlighted that the US policy is focused on stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. According to Blinken, Iran’s “breakout time” — the time needed to produce enough weapons-grade material for a nuclear weapon — is now likely only one or two weeks. This is a significant decrease from the previous estimate of at least a year, which was based on the conditions of the nuclear deal that was abandoned.
Blinken made these remarks at the Aspen Security Forum, pointing out that Iran’s recent actions have led to an increase in their ability to produce fissile material, which is essential for nuclear weapons. Although Iran has not yet made an actual nuclear weapon, this is something that the US closely monitors. Blinken stressed that the current situation is concerning and underscored that the US remains committed to using diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The goal is to find a peaceful solution to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons in the future.