Does Tehran want the bomb? Some in DC say war has shifted Iran’s thinking.

Iran’s prolonged conflict has left its government weakened and its economy in ruins, prompting analysts in Washington to warn that Tehran may now view a nuclear weapon as its best remaining deterrent against future threats. With leadership decimated and resources stretched thin, the country’s strategic calculus appears to be shifting toward nuclear ambitions as a means of survival. The assessment underscores growing concerns over regional stability as Iran’s options narrow in the face of sustained pressure. Experts suggest the war’s toll has accelerated a long-standing debate over whether Iran will pursue a nuclear program more aggressively.

After eight months of a war that decimated its leadership and impoverished the country, Iran appears more likely now to seek a nuclear weapon as a deterrent, analysts in Washington say.