European Officials Warn of Escalating Iranian Intentions to Acquire Nuclear Weapons

European officials have expressed concerns that recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have heightened anger in Tehran, prompting Iranian leaders to strengthen their determination to seek nuclear weapons.

The Washington Post quoted three European officials as saying that these strikes "have given Tehran a new incentive to develop a secret atomic weapon," while emphasizing the need for an international agreement to contain the Iranian nuclear program.

Officials pointed out that European efforts to resume nuclear talks with Iran are facing significant challenges, with diminishing prospects for an agreement, which they described as "becoming slim."

They also acknowledged that initial assessments indicate that the American strikes did not completely dismantle Tehran's nuclear program, although they caused "significant damage" to enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and the Isfahan nuclear complex.

Officials admitted the difficulty of persuading involved parties, including Iran and global powers, to return to the negotiating table, especially amidst the complexities of the current political landscape.

They explained that Tehran's calculations may change after the recent Israeli military campaign, which disrupted negotiation efforts initiated by President Donald Trump, who initially refrained from Israeli attacks.

On the other hand, a European official stated that any future negotiations will heavily depend on the extent of damage to Iranian nuclear sites and their remaining capabilities, indicating that making crucial decisions will take a long time.

This comes at a time when President Donald Trump stated that Iran has not agreed to open its nuclear sites for inspection or to abandon uranium enrichment. He told reporters aboard his presidential plane that he believes the Iranian nuclear program has suffered a "permanent setback," despite the possibility of resuming it at other sites.

Trump added that he will discuss the Iranian file with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the White House on Monday.