Austrian intel report contradicts US claims on Iran nuclear weapons program
A new intelligence report has surfaced, claiming that Iran is actively pursuing its nuclear weapons program, with the capability to launch missiles over long distances. This revelation from Austrian officials contradicts the assessment of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which stated that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized any nuclear weapons program.
The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Austria released an intelligence report stating, “In order to assert its regional political power ambitions, Iran is striving for comprehensive rearmament, including the development of nuclear weapons to make the regime immune to attacks and to expand its dominance in the Middle East and beyond.” The report further highlighted that Iran’s nuclear weapons development program is well advanced, with a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long distances.
According to a document obtained by Fox News Digital, Iran has developed sophisticated sanctions-evasion networks that have benefited Russia. This new information poses a challenge to President Trump’s negotiation efforts to resolve the atomic crisis with Iran, as it suggests that Iran will not abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
A White House official responded to the Austrian intelligence report, stating, “President Trump is committed to ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon or the capacity to build one.” The report emphasized the threat posed by Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and its illegal atomic weapons program.
The report also highlighted the presence of Iranian intelligence officers disguised as diplomatic personnel in Vienna, one of the largest Iranian embassies in Europe. The Austrian intelligence agency warned that Iranian intelligence services are adept at circumventing strategies for procuring military equipment, proliferation-sensitive technologies, and materials for weapons of mass destruction.
In 2021, a former Iranian diplomat based in Vienna was convicted by a Belgium court for planning to blow up an opposition meeting of Iranian dissidents in Paris. This incident underscores the extent of Iran’s covert activities in Europe.
When asked about the discrepancies between the U.S. and Austrian intelligence reports, David Albright, a physicist and founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, stated that the ODNI report is outdated and that the Austrian report aligns with assessments from Germany and Britain.
European intelligence reports have previously indicated that Iran sought to bypass sanctions to acquire technology for its nuclear weapons program. Iran has also been implicated in providing weapons to terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
The revelation of Iran’s active nuclear weapons program raises concerns about the regime’s intentions and its impact on regional stability. The U.S. government has yet to respond to these latest developments, but the international community must remain vigilant in addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
