Israel: Iran is Far from Acquiring Nuclear Bomb

Iran

October 3rd, 7:04am

London, Tehran, Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat

A view of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility south of Tehran (Reuters)

Israel's military intelligence believes that Iran still has a long way to acquire a functioning nuclear bomb that can threaten Israel, noting that the levels of enriched uranium are “disturbing.” Israel’s Military Intelligence head Maj-Gen Tamir Hayman told Walla News that Iran would not get a nuclear bomb soon, despite enriching uranium at unprecedented levels. Hayman said in an interview with Wallah, parts of which were published by the Jerusalem Post, that there is an enriched amount of uranium in volumes not seen before, and it is disturbing. He indicated that there is no progress in all other aspects of the Iranian nuclear project. “Not in the weapons project, in the financial area, not in any other sector. Therefore, the period that remains of two years has not changed. Because even from the moment you have a breakout, there is still a long way to go before a bomb,” he said. “To the best of our knowledge, the directive has not changed, and they are not heading toward a breakout. They are not heading toward a bomb right now: It may be in the distant future.” Hayman said that the “right thing” to do is to use diplomacy regarding Iran and its nuclear program, adding that there must be a practical, reliable military option along with the economic and diplomatic tools. “Let’s just agree with the fact that the right thing to do is to take Iran in the direction we want on the side of diplomacy: an attempt at a better agreement,” he said. Tehran is deploying advanced anti-aircraft missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and more, however, it continues to have a hard time confronting attacks by the Israel Air Force, announced Hayman. He recalled the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of al-Quds Force, saying it was one of the most significant and essential events in his time, adding that his assassination made a substantial contribution to Israel’s national security. Soleimani was the man who designed, approved, and also acted against Israel, Hayman said. “He was a dangerous man,” and now that he is dead, his vision “is hopeless at the moment. Nobody is interested in it. Not the Russians, and not the Syrian regime.” There is also a “consistent and sustained” decline of Iranians in Syria, adding that while Syrian militias remain, Tehran continues to withdraw its people from the country. But as Iran removes its people from Syria, Hezbollah remains well-established there, ready to act against Israel. He indicated that using Hezbollah against Israel will bring about two things: significant destruction of the party’s assets and the destruction of the Lebanese state.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3223421/israel-iran-far-acquiring-nuclear-bomb