Israel’s attacks risk pushing Iran towards nuclear weapon development

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While the logic for Iran to pursue nuclear weapons as a deterrent might have grown stronger in response to the Israeli strikes, Tehran’s ability to execute such a strategy was in serious doubt, said Andreas Krieg, an associate professor of security studies at King’s College London.

The unprecedented scope of the Israeli strikes – targeting nuclear infrastructure, key military installations, and senior leadership – had “not only degraded Iran’s physical capabilities but also shaken the political and institutional foundations upon which any move toward nuclear weaponisation would rely”, he told This Week In Asia.

The Iranian regime now faced immense internal and external pressures in the wake of the attacks, Krieg said.

Period	13 Jun 2025
Held at	South China Morning Post, Hong Kong