 "A poster depicting missiles in Tehran, Iran. (Photo: AFP)")
After conducting widespread strikes inside Iran, Israel has said that the Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime was “nearing the point of no return” in the development of a nuclear weapon.
Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear programme , military sites, and top military leaders in strikes across Iran in the early hours of Friday. It dubbed it ‘Operation Rising Lion’.
In a post on X, the Israeli military said that recent intelligence has shown that Iran has been producing thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium and currently has enough uranium for 15 bombs.
In October 2023, Iran had 4,130.7 kg of enriched uranium that was enough for nine bombs but it now has 7,264 that is enough for 15 bombs.
“The regime is producing thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium, alongside decentralized and fortified enrichment compounds, in underground, fortified sites. This program has accelerated significantly in recent months, bringing the regime significantly closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the statement read.
The Israeli military said that it was not left with any option other than attacking Iran’s nuclear programme.
In addition to nuclear sites, including Natanz, Israel killed top Iranian officials , such as IRGC chief Major General Hossein Salami, Iranian military chief Brigadier General Mohammad Bagheri, and deputy military chief Gholamali Rashid, and scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji Fereydoun Abbasi.
With strikes on the Iranian nuclear programme, Israeli Prime Minister Benjmain Netanyahu defied US President Donald Trump, who had asked him not to attack Iran’s Iranian nuclear sites — as recently as yesterday.
Iran is widely expected to retaliate but the scope of any retaliation will depend on the support that Trump offers to Iran. So far, the Trump administration has maintained that it was a unilateral Israeli attack. Moreover, efforts so far have been publicised to withdraw non-essential US personnel from the region and secure US assets instead of bolstering the defence of Israel.
As Iran has apparently conducted the operation without Trump’s go-ahead, it is left to be seen if Trump would come to Israel’s defence like former President Joe Biden did. In two rounds of Israel-Iran aerial battles last year, the Israel was able to fend off the Iranian barrage because of the defensive coalition put together by Biden that comprised US, British, French, and Arab forces.