Iran’s IRGC Chief Admits Nuclear Weapons Pursuit, Vows to Continue

Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ahmad Vahidi has said Iran will continue working on nuclear weapons as long as the United States and Israel possess them, according to Israeli media reports on August 6, 2026. "As long as the United States and Israel possess nuclear weapons, we will continue working on them for our national security. If they disarm, we will disarm," Vahidi was quoted as saying. Israeli media described the remarks as a "direct admission" by an Iranian official of pursuing a nuclear bomb. The statement comes as US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that "a lot of progress" had been made in negotiations with Iran and that the situation would become clearer within 48 hours. "We're moving along very nicely. We'll find out. We'll know in 48 hours, I would say," Trump told reporters as he departed Los Angeles for Las Vegas. Trump said Iranian officials had contacted the US expressing interest in talks, adding that Tehran would be "very smart" to reach a deal. Trump also reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ongoing diplomatic efforts. During a Fox News interview, Trump said: "Iran, as an example, will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can't, but they'll--it's going to be formal. The strait's going to be open very soon, or they're going to get hit very hard, and then the strait's going to be open." His remarks came as the US, Iran, and Oman are reportedly close to finalising an interim agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran last month, according to Axios, citing two regional sources and a US official. On Tuesday, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be opened "very soon" as part of a deal with Iran and Oman, while warning that the Islamic Republic would be "hit really hard" if it fails to reach an agreement amid talks over an interim arrangement to ease tensions in the region. Vahidi’s comments represent the clearest indication yet of Tehran's position on nuclear weapons, intensifying debate over the future of diplomacy, regional security and the ongoing standoff between Tehran and Washington. The developments come as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that Washington's ultimate objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while negotiations continue through Omani mediation.