Iran’s nuclear sites have been attacked by Israel

Israeli Air Forces and Strategic Forces Are Getting Closer to the Iranian Nuclear Agenda: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Reveals an Operation “Rising Lion”

In a video statement posted on social media Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attack, called Operation “Rising Lion, “struck at the heart of Iran nuclear enrichment program” and will “continue for as many days as it takes”.

“It’s clear Iran is just buying for time; it refuses to agree to this basic requirement of peaceful nations. That is why we have no choice but to act and act now,” Netanyahu said.

Israel had concerns about the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program. Netanyahu stated that the attacks were a fight for the country’s survival.

So, Trump is making a major gamble here, thinking that this actually will soften the Iranian position and make them capitulate. If they don’t, what are his options? And this is where I think the Israelis are hoping that the Iranians will not capitulate and that will force the United States into the war.

An Israel military official told NPR that sirens sounded across Israel in the hours before dawn. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a statement declaring a “special state of emergency” across the country, and to expects missile and drone retaliation.

There were multiple reports from Tehran that loud explosions had been heard in the northeast of the Iranian capital. Iran’s state TV reported that the commander of the Revolutionary Guards was killed in a strike by Israel. Iran’s armed forces are led by the Revolutionary Guards and they wield significant political and military influence.

Israel launched air strikes into Iran early Friday in order to hit the country’s nuclear program, triggering an Iranian response as the region braced for further military action.

“We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Netanyahu said early Friday, adding that the operation would “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s survival.”

The Israelis calculate that even if there is improvement in US-Iran relations, they will not be accompanied by a reduction in Israeli Iranian tensions. “So the Israelis have, for more than 20 years, tried to sabotage any diplomacy between the United States and Iran.”

Danon said after October 7th that they were not going to wait for their enemies to surprise them again. The industry of the missiles that Iran has developed was also targeted.

Inskeep: I just want to make sure that I understand what you’re saying, though. You’re saying they had this program for building a nuclear weapon. Was Iran actually actively assembling a nuclear weapon, according to your intelligence?

Danon: No. It wasn’t like a nuclear reactor for civil purposes, according to the intelligence we have. It was a military program that was hidden from the international community. And once we realized that they are playing the game and they are getting very close to the point of no return, we couldn’t take that risk. A few hours ago, they sent more than 100 drones. We expect ballistic missiles to fly into Israel in the next few days. So we cannot wait for the day that they will actually be able to put the nuclear capability on those ballistic missiles that they have already.

But Trump shifted his position a couple of weeks ago and was no longer content with just limiting the program. He would like to eliminate the program. And that led nowhere, predictably. He has moved towards allowing Israel to conduct these strikes in order to see if that will change the Iranian position or not.

Iranian state media says Tehran will respond harshly to Israeli strikes. According to you and other analysts this makes it more probable that Iran will continue to pursue a nuclear program.

Parsi: Well, nothing really strengthens your desire for nuclear deterrence than actually being attacked. Several heads of the Atomic Energy Agency have said that an attack on Iran will make it more likely that Iranians will leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty. And that risk is now very significant.

Jordan’s actions against Israel and Iran in the presence of the IAEA: a test for the regime of non-proliferation

Jordan said its air force blocked attacks on Israel in Jordanian airspace after Israel reported it had intercepting Iranian drones. Jordan, Israel, Iran and Iraq closed their airspace to civilian traffic while other countries diverted or canceled flights.

The international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, this week declared Iran in contravention of non-proliferation agreements aimed at halting the spread of nuclear weapons. Iran says its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes.