Concerns Over Tehran's Potential Acquisition of Nuclear Weapons; Israel Reactivates 'Iran Nuclear Program' Task Force

The Axios news analysis website reported on Wednesday, citing three senior Israeli officials, that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has reactivated task forces focused on the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic two weeks ago. According to the report, this task force consists of members from Israel's defense establishment, foreign ministry, and intelligence community, and is managed by the National Security Council under the oversight of a team led by Mossad, to closely examine Iran's nuclear program, particularly its potential military activities. Axios reported that another team, led by Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet, has been tasked with preventing the infiltration of the Islamic Republic into Israeli society, which has reportedly increased over the past year. Two former Israeli officials involved in this process stated that Netanyahu has not seriously addressed the nuclear issue since returning to power in December 2022, as he was initially preoccupied with judicial reforms and later became embroiled in the Gaza conflict. Axios quoted these officials as saying that some senior former defense officials close to Netanyahu have recently expressed their concerns to the Prime Minister and his team regarding the neglect of this issue, citing new intelligence about Iran's nuclear activities. Two other Israeli officials and two American officials told Axios that Israel and the United States are concerned that the Islamic Republic may increase its nuclear weapons efforts in the weeks leading up to the U.S. presidential elections. These officials also believe that Iranian leaders may try to exploit the transitional period following the elections in the United States to pursue nuclear weapons. An American official, based on U.S. intelligence reports, stated that the Islamic Republic is not currently seeking nuclear weapons, but its provocative nuclear actions in recent months have created significant challenges. It is reported that Iran's nuclear program was discussed in recent meetings between Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Washington with Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, and Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense. The Biden administration has repeatedly assured that the Islamic Republic 'will never acquire nuclear weapons.' In this context, two teams from the United States and Israel are set to hold a joint meeting in July regarding Iran and the Islamic Republic. The U.S. Defense Secretary, during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, stated that they stand by Israel to ensure the Islamic Republic does not acquire nuclear weapons. The review of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program at the United Nations Security Council; the European Troika has put the 'snapback mechanism' on the table. An American think tank expert told Voice of America: 'It is not too late to prevent the construction of a nuclear bomb in Iran.' New construction at two Iranian nuclear sites; The Washington Post reported that the rate of enriched uranium production at Fordow may triple. The U.S. and Israel are reviewing new information about the Islamic Republic's nuclear activities.