Asia Times:

By GABRIEL HONRADA

Iran’s nuclear reset suggests that while US and Israeli strikes may have shattered facilities, they have not extinguished its ambition to rebuild a survivable nuclear deterrent—possibly with help from North Korea.

This month, the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) reported that Iran is quietly recalibrating its nuclear strategy after its June 2025 confrontation with Israel exposed the limits of its conventional deterrence.

According to ISPI, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, long seen as blocking a final push toward nuclear weapons, has authorized efforts in October to develop compact nuclear warheads suitable for ballistic missiles, while still stopping short of ordering uranium enrichment beyond 60%.

It notes that Iran already holds enough 60%-enriched uranium to build crude low-yield nuclear devices, but not warheads small and robust enough for missile delivery – a gap it is trying to close.

ISPI suggests that Iran is prioritizing warhead design over enrichment to avoid a vulnerable breakout phase that could invite military strikes. However, the report also states that progress is expected to be slow, with compact warheads requiring years of testing and access to weapons-grade fissile material.

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