Araqchi Raps Western Silence on Israeli Nuclear Arsenal

“Iran has long warned that the Western hysteria over nuclear proliferation in our region is all fluff. The issue, in their view, is not the existence—or expansion—of atomic weapon arsenals. It is about who gets to advance scientifically, even with peaceful nuclear programs,” Araqchi wrote in a post on his X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

“It is therefore not a surprise that there is deafening Western silence over the apparent expansion of the only nuclear weapons arsenal in our region—the nukes in the hands of their genocidal ally. The E3 and the US may be in denial, but their silence is eliminating any credibility to utter anything about non-proliferation,” the Iranian foreign minister said.

His remarks come as new revelations point to intensified construction at the Dimona nuclear site, long suspected of housing the Israeli regime’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.

According to a report published by the Associated Press on September 3, satellite images show intensified construction at the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center near the city of Dimona, a facility long linked to the Zionist regime’s secret nuclear weapons program.

Experts who analyzed the images suggested the work could either be a new heavy water reactor —capable of producing plutonium for atomic bombs— or a facility for assembling nuclear weapons. They highlighted that Israel’s current heavy water reactor, which dates back to the 1960s, may soon require replacement.

The AP report notes that construction at Dimona raises serious proliferation concerns, especially in light of the June airstrikes by the Israeli regime and the US on Iranian nuclear sites, including the heavy water reactor at Arak. While Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities remain under full IAEA inspections, Israel continues to operate outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and refuses to allow any international oversight.

Israel is widely believed to possess around 90 nuclear warheads, though its policy of “nuclear ambiguity” prevents official confirmation. Analysts warn that the ongoing expansion at Dimona could indicate efforts to either maintain or expand the arsenal.

Despite the seriousness of the revelations, both the Israeli regime and the White House declined to comment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also reiterated that it has no authority to inspect Israeli facilities since Tel Aviv is not a member of the NPT.