Iran was only days away from acquiring a nuclear weapon from North Korea before the United States launched its military campaign against Tehran, former US national security adviser John Bolton said. Bolton, who served during US President Donald Trump’s first term, said the American strikes under Operation Epic Fury caused major damage to Iran’s nuclear program but did not completely eliminate it.
Speaking to The Sun’s Harry Cole, Bolton said the operation inflicted “very significant damage” on Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, he warned that Tehran could still obtain a nuclear device quickly through its ties with North Korea.
Bolton said Iran could potentially secure a weapon through a financial transaction with Pyongyang.
According to him, once payment is made, North Korea could deliver a nuclear device rapidly.
The country could “put a nuclear device on an aeroplane, route it through Russia” and deliver it to Iran within 72 hours, he said.
“And the ties between North Korea and Iran, both on ballistic missiles and the nuclear side, are quite real,” Bolton added.
“That’s what the proliferation threat is all about.”
“Let’s face it, in the China-Russia axis that’s forming right now, Iran and North Korea are two outriders, and so the cooperation between them is very threatening.”
Bolton said the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons highlights the need for political change in Tehran.
“I just think it’s a convincing argument [for] why you need a normal regime in Iran,” he said, adding, “It could be a military government. It could be a democracy.”
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
