Iran's Nuclear Weapons The U.S. warns that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons that could threaten America and its allies. Iran says nuclear weapons violate Islamic law, and that Iran only wants to develop nuclear capability to produce electricity, to supplement its oil reserves. However, if Iran develops nuclear capability for energy, it will also have the capability to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has had a limited nuclear program for 17 years. It will take another seven to ten years for Iran to develop nuclear capability. Iran can not develop nuclear capability without outside help.