this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2026
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[–] Paranoidfactoid@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

They cannot build a W54. This would be an early prototype device and that would not fit on a vest. Iran only has enriched uranium, not plutonium (according to news reports). It takes a great deal more uranium than plutonium to build a bomb. About 65ish kilos of +90% enriched for a uranium bomb.

The W54 is a shaped charge implosion device. To build a W54, they'd need plutonium. And the trigger to detonate shaped charges at the right time in the right order. Plus, they need a neutron moderator to limit criticality so it doesn't detonate with the full potential of the nuclear material. This is all well beyond Iran's capabilities.

Russia could do it though. Probably China too. North Korea? I think not.