Last week, talks in Vienna were underway for return to compliance of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, the talks dispensed only a strong concern by U.S. and European officials with the Iranian negotiating team. Stating Iran has no “serious” proposals, the officials believe Iran desires to use the talks as a cover for continued buildup of their nuclear program.
Concerned over renewed nuclear talks between Tehran and Western powers, Israel is watching closely. Any agreement could prove extremely challenging for Israel as they desire to never to see Tehran with a nuclear weapon. This past spring, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “I will never allow Iran to obtain the nuclear capability to carry out its genocidal goal of eliminating Israel.” The former head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen recently told reporters, “Independent strikes on nuclear sites, if Iran takes this path that endangers our existence, should and must be on the table — unequivocally.”
Israel Feels More Threatened by Iran with Nukes in the Picture
The Iranian uranium enrichment program has always been highly controversial, with Iranian leadership stating their program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported nuclear material in Iran is not being diverted to military use. However, the IAEA has also stated they cannot confirm the “absence of possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program,” only leading to more questions.
For over 40 years, Iranian threats against Israel have been commonplace, with few nations paying any attention. Iranian hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005 stated, “Israel must be wiped off the map.” Iranian officials continued publicly threats, such as Iran would “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa,” and marking the sides of their missile’s tests “Israel Must Be Wiped Out.” Israel continues to view all of Iran’s threats seriously. Relations have become increasingly tense, with the countries engaging in a series of conflicts and covert operations against each other.
Proxy Wars Over the Years
After years of proxy attacks on Israel and increasing concerns over the Iranian nuclear program, a wave of assassinations targeting Iranian nuclear scientists occurred in 2010. At the same time, an advanced computer worm called Stuxnet, believed to have been developed by U.S. and Israel was used to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. The attack was believed to have damaged nearly 1,000 centrifuges, representing 10% of the Natanz enrichment plant.
In 2011, Israel was suspected of causing an explosion that reportedly damaged the nuclear facility at Isfahan, south of Tehran. As proxy attacks on Israel continued, Mossad reportedly stole nuclear secrets from an Iranian warehouse in 2018. The information demonstrated to the world the Iranian desire to build nuclear weapons along with the discovery of two nuclear sites previously hidden from inspectors. When the evidence was shared with western governments, the Trump administration withdrew from the JCPOA – aka “Iran Nuclear Deal”, and reimposed sanctions, stating it was bad deal for the U.S.
In July 2020, there were explosions again at the Natanz nuclear facility. It is believed that Israel was involved, and the damage would delay the Iranian nuclear weapons program by one to two years. This past April, an apparent deliberate explosion caused a power failure at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Iranian officials called the explosion an act of sabotage, suggesting it had been carried out by Israel.
Intentional Hit or just a Test?
This past Saturday (December 4), explosions were heard again near Iranian nuclear site Natanz. Iran reported that an air defense test triggered a loud explosion near Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility on Saturday. “Badroud residents [12 miles away) heard the noise and saw a light which showed an object had just blown up in the skies over the city,” witnesses told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
As nuclear talks with the major powers stumble, many questions remain about the explosion. Was this truly an air defense test? Was there no damage to the facility? Was Israel behind the “object” that was blown up in the skies over Badroud? Israel has said repeatedly that it stands ready to use all means, including force, to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. With the Vienna talks providing little positive momentum, Israel may very well be striking out alone, again.
