US intelligence agencies believe that Tehran could begin developing nuclear weapons if the US strikes Iran's underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, The New York Times reported, citing sources.
According to them, the assassination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, by Israel could also push Iran towards developing nuclear weapons. US intelligence agencies believe that Tehran has not yet made a final decision on creating a nuclear bomb, the publication notes.
Yesterday, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that, according to the Washington administration, Iran has the ability to create nuclear weapons within "a few weeks" if its leadership decides to do so.
In March of this year, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that US intelligence agencies see no signs that Tehran is working to create nuclear weapons.
Also, according to her data, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has not given a sanction for the resumption of the nuclear weapons development program, which was suspended in 2003.
At the same time, Gabbard stressed that the US intelligence community is closely monitoring the activities of the Islamic Republic in the nuclear sphere.