Iran explored advanced nuclear weapon concepts based on pure fusion before its war with Israel, an Israeli media report said, describing research into a theoretical approach that does not require uranium or plutonium.
The report, published by Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday, said Iranian scientists examined what it described as a “fourth-generation” nuclear weapon based on pure fusion, a technology that no country is known to have successfully produced.
“Such fusion does not require uranium or plutonium, and produces almost no radiation or fallout,” the report said.
Why pursue fusion research
The Israeli report said it was unclear why Iran pursued research into pure fusion given the extreme technical difficulty of the approach.
It outlined several possible explanations, including that the work was meant to obscure continued interest in conventional nuclear weapons, to explore ways around international non-proliferation frameworks, or to build scientific knowledge that could shorten development timelines if Tehran later chose another path.
Another explanation cited was that Iran sought experience with highly complex nuclear physics challenges, even if the fusion route itself was not practical.
Washington Post cites intelligence from 2023
The Israeli account broadly aligns with reporting this week by the Washington Post, which said US and Israeli intelligence agencies began gathering information in 2023 indicating that Iranian scientists were exploring several nuclear weapon paths, including fusion-based concepts.
The Post said US intelligence assessed that Iranian researchers were also studying a crude fission device that could be built more quickly if Iran’s leadership reversed a long-standing ban on nuclear weapons, while fusion research was viewed as more aspirational.
US and Israeli analysts agreed that a fusion weapon would be “beyond Iran’s reach,” the Post said.
Satellite images show site activity
Separately, a US-based think tank said satellite imagery shows new activity at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, which was damaged during the June conflict.
The Institute for Science and International Security said images taken in December show Iran placing panels over a destroyed enrichment facility at Natanz.
“Satellite imagery from December shows Iran placed panels on top of the remaining structure, providing cover for the destroyed facility,” the think tank said.
Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, while Western governments and Israel say Iran’s nuclear activities raise proliferation concerns.
Iranian media reported that prices for various types of nuts and dried fruit have risen between 40 percent and, in some cases such as pistachios and cashews, up to 100 percent compared with last year.
Yalda is an ancient Iranian celebration marking the longest night of the year, observed on the winter solstice, usually on December 20 or 21. Families and friends gather after sunset to stay awake through the night, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the gradual return of longer days.
Dideban Iran, citing official data, said the surge reflects higher production costs, currency volatility and rising packaging expenses, according to traders active in the sector.
Vendors told the outlet that demand has dropped markedly compared with last year, despite Yalda being one of Iran’s most important traditional celebrations, when families typically gather around tables filled with fruit, nuts and sweets.
The evening centres on shared food, especially pomegranates and watermelon, which are associated with health, renewal, and the memory of summer. A common ritual is fal-e Hafez, the practice of opening the poetry book of Hafez and reading verses believed to offer insight or guidance. Rooted in pre-Islamic traditions and linked to Zoroastrian ideas of light and renewal, Yalda remains a widely observed cultural event in Iran, bringing together generations around storytelling, poetry, and collective resilience against the cold and dark of winter.
Instalment sales
The prices for Yalda nuts were up 40 to 45 percent year on year, Mehdi Bakhtiari-Zadeh, acting head of Tehran’s municipal fruit and vegetable markets organization, said on Wednesday. The retail price of a kilogram of sweet nut mix this year, he said, stands at about 6,660,000 rials (around $5), compared with roughly 4,000,000 to 4,500,000 rials ($3 to 3.5) last year.
Average monthly income for workers in Iran in 2025 is generally less than $150.
With household purchasing power eroded, Dideban Iran reported that some shops have resorted to alternative sales methods, including instalment plans and even accepting checks, to attract customers unwilling or unable to pay upfront.
Sweets shrink as costs climb
Rising costs have also hit the confectionery sector. The ILNA news agency quoted Ali Bahremand, head of Tehran’s confectioners and pastry sellers union, as saying there is no shortage of raw materials, but high prices have pushed consumers toward buying smaller quantities, often half-kilogram boxes instead of larger ones.
According to Bahremand’s remarks, the prices of key inputs such as cooking oil and eggs have increased by about 167 percent and 200 percent respectively compared with the same period last year, contributing to a sharp fall in overall sweet purchases.
The price hikes come amid broader increases in basic goods approved by the government in recent months. Citizens have told Iran International that dairy prices, another key ingredient for Yalda treats, have risen sharply, with some families saying such products have already been removed from their diets, underscoring how traditional celebrations are increasingly shaped by economic strain.