Iran’s Chemical Weapons Program Raises New Concerns Amid Rising Tensions

A recent report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has spotlighted growing concerns about Iran’s chemical weapons program, suggesting it has received far less scrutiny than the country’s nuclear ambitions. The report comes at a critical time as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate and military action appears increasingly possible.

The FDD assessment claims the Iranian regime may have used chemical weapons against its own citizens during unprecedented domestic uprisings that began in December 2025, representing the most significant internal challenge since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Any such deployment would constitute a clear violation of Iran’s obligations under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

“The United States, its allies and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should investigate credible claims that Iran’s regime used chemical weapons against its own people,” said Andrea Stricker, deputy director of FDD’s nonproliferation program and author of the report.

As diplomatic efforts continue through indirect talks mediated by Oman in Geneva, the U.S. has simultaneously bolstered its military presence in the Persian Gulf. The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford alongside numerous other warships signals Washington’s readiness to enforce its position if diplomacy fails.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi recently expressed optimism on social media, stating Iran would resume talks with the U.S. “with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal—in the shortest possible time.” While claiming Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons, Araghchi emphasized the country would not relinquish its rights to peaceful nuclear technology.

Despite these assurances, analysts remain skeptical about Iran’s willingness to make substantive concessions. U.S. officials have not ruled out military strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, with some reports suggesting even broader regime change campaigns could be under consideration.

The chemical weapons allegations add another dimension to these tensions. According to Israeli officials, Iran has developed a sophisticated chemical weapons program “based on weaponized pharmaceutical agents” that affect the central nervous system and can be lethal in small doses. Israel claims that the Shahid Meisami Research Complex, which Israeli forces destroyed in June 2025, was developing fentanyl opioid-derived tactical munitions for military use.

Iran’s chemical weapons program reportedly began in 1983 during its war with Iraq, in response to chemical attacks from Saddam Hussein’s regime. As recently as 2024, the U.S. Intelligence Community has found Iran in noncompliance with its CWC obligations.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations has consistently denied these allegations, describing them as “unfounded reports” and “psychological warfare propagated by the Zionist regime.” Iran has positioned itself as “a victim of Western-donated chemical weapons employed by the Saddam regime” and claims to be “a responsible member” of the CWC.

Stricker argues that the international community has failed to hold Iran accountable for its chemical weapons program. The FDD report recommends a multi-pronged approach, including a pressure campaign against Iran, a formal ultimatum demanding compliance with the convention, and the acceptance of monitoring and verification mechanisms.

The report also suggests Israel should ratify the CWC to gain more credibility in challenging Iranian violations. As a last resort, it proposes considering military strikes targeting Iranian chemical weapons facilities if intelligence indicates the regime is preparing to use such weapons against protesters or transferring them to proxy groups in the Middle East.

“The only solution to Iran’s persistent WMD threat is for the United States and Israel to undermine the regime’s grip on power,” Stricker concluded. “Until then, the two nations will periodically be forced to play whack-a-mole with Tehran’s capabilities whenever they endanger regional peace.”

As diplomatic efforts continue in Geneva, the international community watches closely, aware that the outcome may determine whether military confrontation can be avoided and how Iran’s chemical and nuclear capabilities will be addressed in the months ahead.