Iran28 June, 20262 min read
IRGC-Linked Fars Says Iran Has No Path Other Than Nuclear Deterrence
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IRGC-linked Fars News says Iran must develop nuclear deterrence to deter US and Israel. Unsigned Fars commentary notes deterrence is needed despite a US deal not to arm.
New York Post was read line by line by the Watchdog: 4.2. See the score →
IRGC-linked nuclear deterrence push
Iran’s IRGC-linked media outlet Fars published an unsigned commentary arguing that “Iran has no path other than achieving nuclear deterrence,” framing deterrence as a way to remove a “military option for the occupation and partition of Iran.” The commentary said Iran must “definitely achieve nuclear deterrence” to negotiate “from the proper position” and ensure disputes are resolved through talks rather than military action.
It further argued that deterrence would create a balance of power with the United States and Israel, which it said “possess atomic bombs,” adding that it “does not mean that war will not occur; rather, the scope of the conflict will become controllable.” The Times of India described the same Fars-linked argument as urging Iran to pursue a nuclear weapon despite a preliminary agreement with the United States not to pursue nuclear arms, and it cited the piece’s claim that Tehran must negotiate from “a position of strength.”
IAEA access and verification
While Fars-linked commentary pushed nuclear deterrence, the New York Post reported that Iran has pledged it would not develop a nuclear weapon and noted the US called on Iran to pause all nuclear enrichment for 20 years. The New York Post also quoted IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi saying, “The government of Iran has affirmed quite clearly that [developing nuclear weapons] is not their intention, but of course, intentions are not enough,” and added that “we need to have a very strong system of verification as soon as practicable.”
The Times of India said the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month included Iran’s pledge not to develop nuclear weapons and the US call for Tehran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities for 20 years. It also reported that Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return in September but “has not yet granted access to nuclear sites damaged during US strikes ordered by President Donald Trump in 2025,” with the whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile remaining unclear.
US-Iran tensions and regional flare-ups
Beyond nuclear messaging, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the US military said it conducted a third round of “self-defense” strikes against Iranian sites, with CENTCOM stating it targeted “Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran, and Qeshm Island.” RFE/RL said the strikes were in response to the shooting down of a US MQ-1 drone and that US fighter jets responded by “eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones.”
The same RFE/RL report said Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US Gulf ally Kuwait early on June 1, while Kuwait’s military said its air defenses were confronting “hostile missile attacks and drones” as air raid sirens blared. In parallel, RFE/RL quoted US President Donald Trump insisting in a May 31 post that his deal “states, very clearly, that Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon,” while Iran’s lead negotiator Mohammad Qalibaf said Iranian negotiators “neither trust the enemy's words nor its promises.”