Iran could be forced to develop nuclear weapons if the US or Israel launches military strikes against the country, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader has warned, Roozno reported on April 1.

Ali Larijani, former chief nuclear negotiator and advisor to the Supreme Leader, said that while Iran adheres to the religious decree against nuclear arms, external aggression could create a "secondary justification" for pursuing such weapons.

"If the US makes a strategic mistake in Iran's nuclear issue, it forces Iran to move toward nuclear weapons, because it must defend itself," Larijani said during a television interview.

"The Leader's fatwa is that we do not move toward weapons [nuclear]. A fatwa is different from political directives, and his letter [on this matter] has been registered once at the United Nations," Larijani explained. "But when they put pressure, then it creates a 'secondary justification'."

The senior advisor said that Iran currently has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. 

"They do this with their own hands; Iran does not want to do this [build a nuclear bomb], but when they put pressure, then people put pressure on decision-makers to do this [build nuclear bombs] for the country's security," he added.

But as bne IntelliNews reported, the global instability and especially the war in Ukraine could lead to nuclear proliferation as the West has shown itself extremely reluctant to attack a country like Russia that processes nuclear missiles.

Larijani referenced recent US intelligence assessments confirming Iran has not pursued nuclear weapons. "A few days ago, the head of the US intelligence community said 'we know Iran has not gone toward weapons'," he noted.

"We are saying now that we are not moving toward weapons, and IAEA oversight can continue forever. We have no problem because we don't want to make exaggerated claims, but when they move toward bombing Iran, either by themselves or Israel, they force Iran to make a different decision," Larijani warned.

The comments come amid escalating tensions following recent exchanges between Tehran and Washington, including a formal letter from US President Donald Trump that Iranian officials have described as containing threats.