US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Iran could produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon within “one or two weeks,” following the recent election of President Masoud Pezeshkian, who advocates for ending Iran’s isolation and reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

Despite Pezeshkian’s support for the deal, Blinken noted that Iran’s nuclear advancements have accelerated since the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Blinken attributed this acceleration to the collapse of the deal, which was intended to regulate Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

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He emphasized that Iran is now closer to having the capability to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon than previously estimated.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran is expanding its nuclear capabilities, installing additional centrifuges at its facilities in Natanz and Fordow.

Iran is enriching uranium to a high level of 60%, nearing weapons-grade, and accumulating enough uranium to potentially build several atomic bombs.

Despite the US withdrawal from the 2015 agreement, Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, affirmed Iran’s commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and expressed the desire to revive it.

Additionally, Blinken’s remarks follow increased security for Donald Trump due to an alleged Iranian plot, which Tehran denies.