Nuke-armed Iran would raise chances of terrorists using 'dirty bombs'

Tehran, July 14 (ANI): Iran's ambitions to develop nuclear weapons would raise the chances of terrorists using a "dirty bomb" in the future, security and intelligence agencies have warned.

According to a security expert, Iran would feel "emboldened" to support more terror activity around the world if it had a nuclear arsenal to deter any retaliation.

Sashank Joshi, research fellow at the respected think tank RUSI, said the concern of a nuclear Iran was not so much about a "dirty bomb", but an escalation of its involvement in terrorism generally.

He pointed out that Iran would become more confident in supporting or supplying other groups because those nations targeted would be less likely to retaliate against a nuclear-armed country.

"Iran could use nuclear weapons as a shield to increase support for non-state actions," The Telegraph quoted Joshi, as saying.

"It would be more emboldened to do so," he added.

According to the paper, last month, Jonathan Evans, the Director General of MI5, warned that alongside Iran's nuclear intentions, a return to state-sponsored terrorism could not be ruled out.

"There have already been a series of attempted terrorist plots against Israeli interests in India, Azerbaijan and elsewhere. And the US authorities last year uncovered a plot by the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to mount an attack on the Saudi Ambassador in America," the paper quoted Evans, as saying.

"So a return to State-sponsored terrorism by Iran or its associates, such as Hizbollah, cannot be ruled out as pressure on the Iranian leadership increases," he added. (ANI)