Nuclear sites in Iran have been hit by US missiles but with Western countries seeking to ensure it doesn’t have the capacity to make weapons there is a fear it may try to continue in secret
Iran may turn to North Korea for advice in building nuclear weapons at a “secret” location unknown to US and Israeli intelligence, an expert has warned.
Azriel Bermant, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague, said the West must be wary of “undeclared” nuclear facilities. He urged the West not to rule out Iran’s resolve to develop a nuclear weapon long-term and he even warned they could do so out of sight. The US battered three nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan on Saturday night after a devastating missile exchange between Iran and Israel. Donald Trump has since announced a ceasefire, but there are fears this has already been breached.
Mr Bermant said: “There is still a lot we don’t know at the moment and I think we need to be modest and keep an open mind. The early signs, on the one hand, are that it does look like great damage has been done to Iran’s nuclear facilities.”
Russia has come out in support of Iran and condemned the US attacks and Iran could turn to North Korea to help develop a nuclear weapon, Mr Bermant said. North Korea has successfully established itself as a nuclear nation at the expense of hostile relations with the West.
While Mr Bermant thinks it would be highly unlikely, he doesn’t think the prospect should be ruled out. He said: “Look at the allies Iran has. We’re looking at Russia, China and North Korea. Russia of course has a strategic cooperation agreement with the Iranians, but Russia has not provided military support during this war.
“We have to remember Russia is of course fighting a war in Ukraine and that is its main focus now. And in any event, I don’t think Russia itself has an interest in helping Iran get a nuclear bomb, which could also be a threat to Russia.
“I think the same applies to China. I think the Chinese have a good relationship with Iran, but the Chinese wouldn’t want to help Iranians get a nuclear weapon in my view.
“But the question is the North Koreans, because the North Koreans have worked in cooperation on the development of missiles.” He added: “You can’t rule out maybe some kind of cooperation with North Korea, but I doubt it, I think it will be very difficult for North Korea.”
Looking at how Iran’s possible nuclear plans, Mr Bermant continued: “But it would be wrong to say that Iran’s nuclear programme has been destroyed, it has been degraded. I’ve read a number of reports, including from experts in the nuclear field, that have said there is a sizable stash Iran may well have hidden away before the strike – some 400 or more kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
“If we assume that this is in fact the case, that doesn’t mean that Iran would therefore be in a position to create a nuclear bomb. It would still need to convert the material it has to a metallic form which would be suitable for the core of a nuclear bomb.
“It would need to have facilities to do this. It’s possible it has secret, undeclared facilities we don’t know about. There was also, I understand, a separate place on the ground near Natanz, which was not destroyed.
“If Iran was to withdraw them from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it could then expel nuclear inspectors from its territory and it would be harder to keep tabs. It would be very difficult, in my view, for Iran to secretly develop a nuclear bomb, but not entirely impossible. I think certainly that Iran’s ability to do this has been delayed.”