Axios: Israel's Attack Destroyed the 'Choke Point' of the Islamic Republic's Nuclear Weapons Program

Axios news site reported on Friday, November 25, citing two Israeli officials, that Israel's attack on Parchin on November 5 severely complicated the development of nuclear explosion devices by the Islamic Republic. According to the report, the attack on the 'Taleqan 2' site destroyed this complex device, which is essential for designing and testing plastic explosives surrounding uranium in a nuclear device. Axios reported, citing American and Israeli officials, that the Islamic Republic has resumed sensitive nuclear research in the past year, but has not yet taken steps towards producing nuclear weapons. Israeli officials told Axios that if the Islamic Republic intends to produce nuclear weapons, it will need to replace the destroyed device, which Israel could identify. One official stated that this device is a 'choke point' for nuclear bomb production, and without it, the Islamic Republic would face difficulties. Axios had earlier reported that during the November 5 attack, a highly secretive site for the Islamic Republic's nuclear weapons research in Parchin was destroyed. According to American and Israeli officials, the attack significantly harmed Iran's efforts to resume research on nuclear weapons. A former Israeli official familiar with the attack told Axios that the attack destroyed complex equipment used to design plastic explosives surrounding uranium in a nuclear device necessary for detonation. The Islamic Republic has always claimed to have a peaceful nuclear program, and Iran's representation at the United Nations refrained from commenting on Axios's report. Taleqan 2, located in the Parchin military complex 20 kilometers southeast of Tehran, was one of the targets of the Israeli attacks on November 5. Taleqan 2 was part of the Islamic Republic's nuclear weapons program known as 'Amad' until its cessation in 2003. The Institute for Science and International Security has stated that it was used to test explosives needed to activate a nuclear device. Satellite images released after the November 5 attack indicate its complete destruction. Axios reported, citing American and Israeli officials, that recent activities at Taleqan 2 are part of Iran's efforts to conduct research that could be used for nuclear weapons development or civilian purposes. An American official stated that recent activities at Taleqan 2 may have been a precursor to nuclear weapons production. He described these activities as highly classified, adding that only a small portion of Iranian officials were aware of them, while most officials had no knowledge. Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies learned earlier this year about the Islamic Republic's research activities in Parchin, including computer modeling, metallurgy, and explosive material research that could be used for nuclear weapons. Axios had previously reported that the White House warned Iranian officials in a direct and private conversation in June about their suspicious research activities. Axios reported that Americans hoped their warning would lead to a halt in Iran's nuclear activities, but Tehran continued its operations. An American official stated that there had been 'widespread concern' about the Islamic Republic's activities in Taleqan 2 months before the November 5 attack. Iran's nuclear research even prompted the Director of National Intelligence to change his assessment of Iran's nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal reported on August 10 that the National Intelligence report to Congress, unlike previous years, did not contain the statement that the Islamic Republic is not currently conducting key activities necessary for developing nuclear weapons capable of being tested. When Israel was preparing to attack Iranian positions in response to the Islamic Republic's missile attack on Israel on October 10, Taleqan 2 was chosen as a target. According to officials, Joe Biden asked Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities to prevent a large-scale war between the Islamic Republic and Israel. However, since Taleqan 2 was not part of the declared nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, the government cannot acknowledge the significance of the attack on the site without admitting to violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. An American official told Axios that the attack on Taleqan 2 conveyed the message that the Israelis have significant intelligence oversight even on highly classified matters known to only a few Iranian officials. On the morning of November 5, Israel conducted a 'precise and targeted' operation involving at least 100 fighter jets, targeting over 20 military positions mainly related to the Islamic Republic's air defense in four provinces: Tehran, Semnan, Ilam, and Khuzestan. These retaliatory attacks by Israel followed the Islamic Republic's missile attack on October 10, during which over 180 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. Israel chose to attack Iranian military positions amid widespread speculation about the possibility of attacking nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and even political and military figures including Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in the news media. David Albright, a former UN weapons inspector, stated in a post on X, referencing commercial satellite images, that Israel targeted a building in Parchin named 'Taleqan 2', which had been used for experimental activities during the now-defunct nuclear weapons development program known as 'Amad'. He referenced documents stolen by Israel in 2018, stating that the Islamic Republic had kept important experimental equipment at 'Taleqan 2'. Albright added that even if the Islamic Republic had removed key materials from this building before the Israeli airstrike, the intrinsic value of the building for future nuclear weapons-related activities should not be overlooked. Albright further stated that satellite images from Parchin indicate that Israel damaged three other buildings located 320 meters from 'Taleqan 2'. In two of these three buildings, solid fuel for ballistic missiles was being mixed.