In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israel has launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets, following heightened tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. This unprecedented military action comes on the heels of a shocking report from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. The October IAEA report showed that Iran has significantly increased the pace of its uranium enrichment activities. The strikes were focused on Iran’s nuclear facilities and air defense network. This action has made an incredibly tense situation in the Middle East even worse.
The conflict dates back to December 2017. That’s exactly what former President Donald Trump did when he slapped new sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. These sanctions were intended to stop Iran from expanding their military objectives and nuclear program. Since then, mutual accusations and retaliatory strikes have defined the Israel-Iran relationship.
Israel has attacked quite a few times these last years in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. They argue these measures are needed to stop Iran from creating a weapons supply chain across the region. These operations have caused high civilian death tolls. Among them, surprisingly, are assassinations of Iranian scientists and members of its elite paramilitary units.
The Nature of the Strikes
Israel’s most recent campaign included acts of war with precision airstrikes on dozens of sites inside of Iran. These attacks were aimed directly at nuclear facilities. Authorities are concerned that these sites hold key machinery and technology needed for uranium enrichment. The strikes hit all of Iran’s air defense and missile bases. This step would significantly increase the difficulty of any possible Tehran retaliatory response.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “We go in, blow up the facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision and American execution.” His comments serve to underscore Israel’s determination to destroy an existential threat posed by Iran’s rapidly developing nuclear capabilities.
The timing of these strikes is critical. Indeed, the UN’s nuclear watchdog has just this last month declared that Iran is in non-compliance of its nuclear obligations. This recent announcement raises the specter of a nuclear-armed Iran. Netanyahu is now claiming that Israel has tens of thousands of pages of documents from a warehouse in Tehran. He argues these documents show Iran lied about key aspects of its nuclear program prior to the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Iran’s Response to Attacks
Iran is one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s newest strikes, explicitly blaming its newfound enemy on the regional chessboard. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vehemently blamed Israel for instigating a war. He was firm in the message that Tehran is not playing around when it comes to these provocations.
In a statement reflecting Iran’s stance on foreign intervention, Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated, “You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime [Israel] to target Iran’s territory.” This comment highlights Iran’s criticism of the apparent double standards in international diplomacy while the country suffers under military attack.
Despite these provocations, President Trump appeared to interpret Israel’s actions as further justification for pushing Iran towards a nuclear deal. He remarked, “I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal,” implying that such military efforts could create an environment conducive to negotiations.
The Legacy of Sabotage Efforts
The current conflict does not only include military attacks. It includes a rich history of sabotage efforts meant to undermine Iran’s nuclear program. It’s difficult to top 2010, when the Stuxnet computer virus suddenly attacked Iran’s facilities. This virus, thought to be a joint US/Israeli creation, damaged and ruined thousands of impeccable-looking centrifuges. This case highlights the degree to which both countries are willing to go to stop Iran’s nuclear project.
The current wave of military actions and sabotage reflects a broader strategy by Israel and its allies to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Since the 2015 nuclear deal, which limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions, concerns have persisted regarding compliance and transparency from Tehran.
