Iran May Arm Missiles with Chemical Warheads
A former senior Israeli commander has warned that Iran could seek to arm its rapidly expanding ballistic missile arsenal – which already threatens Israel, US bases and allied interests in the region – with chemical or biological warheads, arguing that the “only viable option” could be a “massive” and “decisive” strike to bring down the regime as nuclear negotiations reach a critical juncture.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on Wednesday – on the eve of a crucial third round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva – Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a former senior IDF commander who continues to advise Israeli defense circles, said the most pressing danger now facing not only Israel but also U.S. forces and regional stability is Tehran’s acceleration of ballistic missile production.
“Right now, the main pressing issue – not only for Israel but also for US forces and regional stability – is the mass production of ballistic missiles,” Avivi said.
While Iran’s nuclear sites were “seriously hit” last year and rebuilding efforts take time, he warned that Tehran was recovering “much faster” when it came to building advanced missiles – systems he described as “more advanced and more dangerous” than those launched during the 12-day war.
He said Iran’s leaders appear “very determined to retaliate” after what they see as a humiliating blow that undermined their deterrence both domestically and internationally.
An underestimated dimension of this missile build-up, Avivi warned, is the possibility that Tehran will seek to equip some of these systems with unconventional payloads.
“There is a discussion about that,” he said, confirming that Israeli defense officials are actively assessing “what the capabilities are and what the chances are that there will be a willingness to install a warhead with those capabilities.”
The prospect that Iran could attach chemical or biological agents to long-range ballistic missiles, he argued, “reinforces the understanding that we need a preemptive strike” to suppress any attempted strike.
Avivi has expressed similar concerns in recent days in press briefings and public interviews, warning that Iran is “continuing its war preparations” and expanding its missile production even as diplomacy continues.
His warning comes as a report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies this week called for greater scrutiny of Iran’s opaque chemical weapons program, arguing that policymakers have focused heavily on the nuclear issue while paying comparatively less attention to potential chemical capabilities. The report cites allegations that Iranian security forces deployed unknown chemicals against protesters earlier this year — which Tehran denies — and notes that U.S. officials have repeatedly found Iran not complying with aspects of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Asked to assess what could happen in the days or weeks to come, the retired general presented three possible scenarios.
The first, he said, is a preemptive Iranian strike against Israel or U.S. targets in the region.
“If the Iranians attack preemptively, they can launch a massive amount of ballistic missiles that will overwhelm defenses in Israel and elsewhere,” he warned.
Israel, he added, is monitoring “very, very closely” every Iranian movement.
A second scenario would be an Israeli pre-emptive strike if Jerusalem determines that Tehran is crossing defined red lines or is preparing an imminent attack.
The third – and, he says, increasingly likely – is a US-led military campaign, which would rely heavily on Israeli intelligence and targeting data.
“There is a very good chance that this is what will happen: a massive attack by the United States,” Avivi said, describing the current period as “a very defining moment.”
Beyond the immediate battlefield calculations, Avivi framed the confrontation — particularly in light of the red lines laid out by President Donald Trump — as a broader test of U.S. deterrence and global credibility.
“Ultimately, America must rebuild its deterrence,” he said, arguing that projecting force against Tehran would have repercussions beyond the Middle East, including relations with China and Russia.
But the retired Israeli commander said limited strikes against nuclear or missile facilities would not be enough.
“If the United States wants to promote a vision of stability and peace in the region, this regime must go,” Avivi said, asserting that Iran’s network of proxies — including Hezbollah, the Houthis and militias operating in Iraq and Syria — ultimately derive their power from Tehran’s leaders.
What would be needed, he argued, is a much broader and more decisive military effort aimed directly at collapsing the regime’s command structure and eliminating its leaders.
“This is a completely different type of operation,” he explained. “It’s not just about military or nuclear sites. It’s about leaders. It’s about the centers of government, the media, the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij forces.”
For such a campaign to succeed, Avivi said, two developments would have to occur simultaneously: a massive, coordinated attack degrading the regime’s ability to govern and command its forces – and a domestic uprising from within.
“America is engaging in this great war without troops on the ground,” he said. “It’s not like Iraq. The boots on the ground are the Iranians.”
Avivi said he was convinced that many Iranians, hit by economic collapse and repeated crackdowns, would see this moment as an opportunity for change.
Despite President Trump’s public preference for diplomacy, Avivi said there was “no way to bridge” the gap between Israeli-US demands and what Tehran would ultimately agree to – or truly implement.
“They will deceive and lie and continue their path toward nuclear capabilities and the rebuilding of their proxies and their ballistic missiles,” he warned, arguing that even a negotiated settlement would not alter the regime’s long-term ambitions.
“Therefore, the only viable option is to attack – massive, simultaneous and decisive attacks – to bring down this regime,” Avivi said. “And I believe that’s what’s going to happen.”
As negotiators prepare to meet Thursday in Geneva, Avivi’s warning frames the stark choice now facing Washington and Jerusalem: secure a deal that will permanently end Iran’s military ambitions — or prepare for a military confrontation that could reshape the region.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
