Dozens of Iranian lawmakers demand a dash for nuclear bomb

Dozens of Iranian lawmakers wrote to the country’s Supreme National Security Council calling for urgent action towards developing nuclear weapons as Israeli threats rise in the region.

The 39 members of parliament argued Iran needs to “reevaluate its defence doctrine”, Hassan Ali Akhlaghi, one of the signatories, told the semi-official ISNA news website.

“Today, none of the international organisations or even European countries or the US are capable of controlling the Zionist regime, and the regime is committing any crimes it can, so we wrote this letter,” he said.

Supreme Leader Aytollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious ruling two decades ago saying nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islamic principles. But calls to shift that policy have gained more favour among hardliners in Tehran during growing hostilities across the region.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [File: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA via Reuters]