Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, warned that Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb would heighten the risk of a catastrophic conflict, citing the increased number of nuclear-armed states.
Buffett's CNBC Warning
On CNBC's "Squawk Box" Tuesday, Buffett emphasized the dramatic shift in the global nuclear landscape. He noted that the number of nuclear-armed countries has grown from two to nine, fundamentally altering risk assessments. "Now you've got… nine countries," Buffett said. "We worried enormously about it when there were two… You were not dealing with unstable people or anything like that. The ship's turned around."
Focus on Iran and North Korea
Buffett specifically highlighted geopolitical tensions involving Iran and North Korea as critical concerns. He argued that nuclear capabilities in these regions raise the stakes due to potential instability and unpredictable actors. "Just think of how you'd feel with North Korea having it and Iran wanting to get it," he stated. "The most dangerous thing is, actually, somebody that's got their hand on the switch, who is dying themselves, or is facing enormous embarrassment... I don't know the answer for it, but I do know that… it'll be more difficult if Iran has the bomb than they don't."
Long-Term Outlook
When asked for advice to a U.S. president on nuclear proliferation, Buffett expressed a fatalistic perspective on the long-term use of nuclear weapons. He predicted that, within 100 to 200 years, some event might trigger their deployment. "I would say that one way or another… in the next 100 years — maybe it's 200 years, who knows — something will happen to cause it to be used," he said. "And we can't take what's out there now."