The leading English-language newspaper in Israel, the Jerusalem Post, has just published an editorial that lucidly sets out what it would mean, not just for Israel but for the region and the world, if Iran is allowed to cross the nuclear threshold. The “clock is ticking,” and it is up to Israel to prevent this from happening, with or without the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bomb that the Americans can provide, or let loose themselves on the nuclear site built deep inside a mountain at Fordow. “The clock is ticking for Israel to stop Iran from advancing its nuclear ambitions – editorial,” Jerusalem Post, June
Israel has long regarded a nuclear-armed Iran as perhaps the gravest existential threat it faces – a reality grounded not only in rhetoric but in Tehran’s actions and capacity.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination, saying only a couple of days ago, “Israel won’t exist in 25 years.”
That notion is not mere bluster. Iran has amassed a stockpile of at least 409 kg. of 60%-enriched uranium, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is enough to turn Iran nuclear within weeks if further processed.
These facts combine to produce a stunning change in regional dynamics: a nuclear-capable, ideologically hostile Iran is soon not a distant threat but an impending crisis.
As its proxy networks – namely, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis – weaken amid Israeli airstrikes, Iran’s internal debate on weaponization grows louder. Tehran now sees nuclear arms not merely as symbolic weapons of mass destruction but as instruments to reassert regional influence and deter Israeli or US interference….
How close is Iran to achieving its goal? According to many, including the authors of this editorial, it may be only weeks away from having enough uranium enriched to weapons-grade to produce several – some say as many as nine —bombs. Israel is continuing to strike, over and over again, the huge nuclear facilities at Isfahan, but there is still Fordow to be dealt with. Israel can’t wait much longer — possibly a month at most — before launching an all-out strike on Fordow. If the Americans won’t provide Israel in that time with the 30,000 pound bunker buster bomb and the use of a B-52 bomber to deliver it, and won’t drop that massive ordnance penetrator on Fordow themselves, Israel could try dropping a series of 5,000 pound bombs which might, in succession, create a crater that with each additional bomb will deepen and widen until the carapace of earth and cement is breached and the enrichment facility takes a direct hit. There is also the possibility of a commando raid by Israelis, a tremendously complicated affair that carries great risks. Still another possibility has been mentioned — the use, by Israel, of a tactical nuclear weapon. One can imagine the world-wide uproar were Israel to use such a weapon, but if it is the only way to destroy the nuclear facility at Fordow, Israel’s hand will not be stayed.
Tony Wilson says
people are saying that Tulsi Gabbard has said there is bomb and Iran is not making one who do you believe?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Your statement is barely comprehensible
What Tulsi Gabbard said following her often quoted statement that Ayatollah Khamenei hasn’t reauthorized the nuke program that they paused in 2003 was that Iran now had high levels of Uranium enriched to 60%, which is unheard of of any country that only has nuclear plants for commercial energy production. For that, the levels required are 3%
It is therefore just media speculation that she’s a Tucker gal, and has threatened to resign should the US move against Iran. If anything, her statements stated intel findings precisely as they exist – that Iran has high quantities of partially enriched Uranium, while also conceding that they have not tracked any authorization from Khamenei
Since Khamenei is the supreme leader but not a part of Iran’s executive government, any such instructions could well have been verbal to any of Iran’s presidents. Since they know that there is an international microscope on their activity, they may deliberately have not left any paper trail of approvals, but nonetheless have had scientists working on it. Which is what Mossad discovered, and did everything to sabotage
CryHavoc says
I am of the belief that Iran already has nuclear ordnance. Iran isn’t some backwoods podunk place. They have a lot of highly educated people (Including a lot of Engineers).
The last people considered nuclear weapons as an iffy and even improbable thing, it was when J. Robert Oppenheimer had three sheets of paper stating the nuclear bomb might work.
somehistory says
Some times, mozscummies attempt bomb-making and blow themselves to smithereens. Would that the scientists working feverishly to make a nuclear one for iran to use against Israel, blow themselves, the place, the tunnels and bunkers and the whole thing, to smithereens.
Aloha Akbar says
What a coincidink. That “earthquake” was only 16kms from Sorkheh, Semnan Province.
This is what l got from google: Several military installations are located near Sorkheh, Sem-nan Province, Iran, with some specifically mentioned in connection with nuclear weapons development and missile programs. These include the Rangin-Kaman Site (Eyvanaki), Ghadir Site (Long-Range Radar), Me’raj-1 Site Complex, Imam Reza Training Center, and the Semnan Air Defense Complex.
CryHavoc says
Iran already has nuclear weapons, but it knows what will happen if it uses them. If Iran fires a nuke at Israel, Tehran could be targeted, and a second nuke might result in The Hejaz being targeted. Needless to say, such an action would set the Muslim world on fire. Who or what is the cause of this? Israel doesn’t chant “Death to Iran!” but that is all you hear from Ali Khamenei. Pakistan isn’t helping in this regard, but they are also an Islamic Republic (A Theocracy).
Now we get to the USA. As long as it is Israel and Iran, the war can be contained without serious spin control. If the USA gets involved though, then Pakistan and/or China and/or Russia might get involved.
gravenimage says
I don’t think that either Russia or China want to start a war with the West for the Mullahs.
Patrick says
Based on recent movement of the bunker buster bombers, I think Trump has decided to initiate an “all systems go command” on Iran. It’s long over due and, given Khomeini’s rebuttal of proposed peace agreement, leaves Trump with no other choice.
I just hope the bb’s work effectively and don’t require backup, however, it may require additional bombing from Israel after the fact.
gravenimage says
Iran’s Nuclear Clock Is Ticking
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Iran has made it clear that if they develop nukes they will “wipe Israel off the map”.