Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state, thanks to Israel’s recent 12-day Operation Rising Lion together with key US airstrikes against Tehran’s top three nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
At least, that’s the current assessment as announced by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir in closed discussions with Israeli lawmakers and defense officials.
The assessment follows recent aerial photographs, however, showing that Iran has already begun efforts to reboot its nuclear development program, particularly with new work at the Natanz site.
Satellite photos from the US-based Maxar tech firm showed last week that new tents or temporary structures have been erected close to the site bombed by the US Air Force.
It’s believed that Iranians are attempting to retrieve enriched uranium that was likely buried deep underground due to the airstrikes.
Even if some elements remained intact in the Iranian nuclear project, however, analysts say the deaths of multiple key nuclear scientists, reactors and other nuclear installations have crippled the country’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon. It’s not clear how long that status may last, however.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is expected to fly to the US this week for meetings to discuss the achievements against Iran and a possible deal to free the remaining 49 hostages from Hamas in Gaza, along with coordinating an impending visit to Washington by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Donald Trump has told reporters several times that if Iran resumes its nuclear development project and once again presents a threat, he would have “no problem” ordering a repeat attack on Tehran’s nuclear assets.
