The MEMRI TV project has released a video of Iranian economist Mohammad-Reza Yazdizadeh saying in a June 1, 2026 appearance on the JomhouriStreet YouTube channel that Iran must show the United States and Israel that it has nuclear capability, and suggested it use its stockpile of 460 kilograms of highly-enriched uranium to manufacture 100 “dirty bomb” missiles capable of rendering targeted cities uninhabitable.
Yazdizadeh said that if Iran were subjected to a nuclear attack by the United States or Israel, it would retaliate in kind, and that those countries should know “for certain” that Iran possesses such capabilities. He claimed that Iran could respond within an hour, just as it allegedly retaliated for the assassination of Ali Khamenei within 10 minutes. He added that if Iran were struck with an atomic bomb, it would retaliate against Washington, and argued that the United States is aware that Iran possesses missiles with the necessary range.
View the MEMRI TV clip here.
Mohammad-Reza Yazdizadeh: ”You cannot be at war with a nuclear country and maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz, unless you too become a nuclear power.
[…]
“Why do the Americans want to take away our [highly-enriched] uranium? It is not about further enrichment or manufacturing a nuclear bomb. With these 460 kilograms, one could build 100 so-called ‘dirty bomb’ missiles, with each warhead containing 5 kg of 60% enriched uranium.
“Even if they would not destroy most of the buildings, such missiles would render the target city uninhabitable, due to the level of contamination. This possibility is what they are worried about. If we find ourselves under a [nuclear] attack by the U.S. or Israel, we will retaliate in kind. They should know for certain that we have that capability.
“If the attack us tomorrow morning, we can retaliate within an hour – just like the retaliation for the martyrdom of the Leader came within 10 minutes. There are designated individuals authorized to carry out counterattacks, without waiting for new instructions.
[…]
“If you [Americans] make the mistake of attacking us with a nuclear weapon, I will retaliate with a nuclear bomb. We have to show them that we will. Talking about the range of our missiles is a joke. If we are hit, we will attack Washington.
“They know that we have the missile range to do this, and we need to show them that we have the nuclear capability as well. At the very least, we can launch a dirty bomb against them.”
Interviewer: ”Indeed, this is why they are insisting about the 400 kg uranium…”
