Iranians carry a model of a missile during a celebration following the IRGC attack on Israel, in Tehran, Iran, April 15, 2024. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

A senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a US-designated terrorist organization, suggested on Thursday that the Iranian regime could reassess its position on nuclear weapons amid warnings of an Israeli military strike in response to Tehran’s unprecedented direct attack against Israel.

“The threats of the Zionist regime [Israel] against Iran’s nuclear facilities make it possible to review our nuclear doctrine and deviate from our previous declared policies and considerations,” Ahmad Haghtalab, the IRGC commander in charge of nuclear security, was quoted as saying in the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Iran has claimed that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes rather than building weapons, although many experts have argued that the Iranian program is too advanced to be for purely civilian use. Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said in February that Iran continued to enrich uranium at rates up to 60 percent purity, which is far beyond the needs for commercial nuclear use.

Israel has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge echoed by lawmakers in many allied nations. Leaders in Middle Eastern countries have also expressed concern about Tehran covertly trying to build nuclear weapons.

Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack against the Israeli homeland on Saturday as revenge for an airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria last week that Iran has attributed to Israel. The strike killed seven members of the IRGC, including two senior commanders. One of the commanders allegedly helped plan the Hamas terrorist group’s Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the incident.

The Jewish state, with the help of allies including the US, Britain, France, and Jordan, repelled the massive Iranian drone and missile salvo, shooting down nearly every drone and missile. The attack caused only one injury.

However, escalating tensions between Iran and Israel risk spreading an already explosive situation in the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

World leaders, especially in the US and Europe, have been urging Israel to show restraint in its response and to de-escalate tensions. Israeli officials have said the Jewish state must respond and will make its own decisions about how to defend itself. British Foreign Minister David Cameron, who was in Israel this week, said after his meetings it was “clear” that Israel decided to respond militarily to the Iranian attack.

Haghtalab’s comments appeared to be addressing concerns that Israel could target Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“If the Zionist regime wants to take action against our nuclear centers and facilities, we will surely and categorically reciprocate with advanced missiles against their own nuclear sites,” Haghtalab said.