Question: If Iran did make a bomb

[EndlessWire]

don't they have to test it somehow? How would they do that? Is their nuclear stuff only for ICBMs? Isn't that harder to do?

[ForgedCrank]

1. But would they?

If an underground test were done, Western intel would know about it almost immediately. Modern seismic monitoring and analysis can differentiate (with very high accuracy) between normal seismic activity and nuclear testing. We would most likely also see the ground activity in preparing for such a test. None of this would end well for Iran.
If I had to venture a guess, they probably already have initiator (etc) info that was supplied by NK or the like. Remember, they don't have to build a perfect, high-yield modern example. For their purposes, the most rudimentary system would suffice. Their primary limitation would be that whatever weapon they came up with, it has to fit on top of and be able to be carried by one of their missiles, and that is a big hurdle. An Iranian bomber headed toward Israel wouldn't make it out of it's own airspace, and missiles have somewhat limited payload capabilities.

[FBaggins]

3. Probably

It's how a country announces that they've joined the club.

They wouldn't do it until they could claim that they had several (and the ability to deliver them)... but I don't think they would try to hide the test (as you say... not that they could).

[ForgedCrank]

6. I guess

I wasn't making a definitive statement, more just me thinking "out loud" I guess.
The geo political stuff is quite complex and is constantly changing. I find it interesting to read good discussion on the subject, and this is a really good topic for seed.

[0rganism]

5. "The whole idea of the doomsday machine is lost if you keep it a secret. Why didn't you tell the world, eh?"

viz Dr. Strangelove (at 4:10):

&t=250s

[FBaggins]

2. You're on the right track

Yes - you don't really have a bomb until you've demonstrated that it actually works. Too many seem to think that the only hurdle to nuclear development is the enrichment of uranium to a particular level... but in reality it is far more complex than that. If the explosives that you use to slam the supercritical mass together are not shaped perfectly... or if they're slightly too fast or too slow... you get a "fizzle" rather than a nuclear explosion.

You're also correct that even repeating what the US did during WWII doesn't help Iran much because they have no way to deliver a 10,000 pound bomb to Israel. They do have ballistic missiles, but then you have to reduce the size of your warhead substantially (and develop a working trigger mechanism).

[C_U_L8R]

4. It's uncertain if Israel ever tested one.

The science seems fairly proven - just need competent engineers to follow the recipe.