Netanyahu: Israel Struck Iran's Nuclear Program

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday, November 28, that Israel's retaliatory strike on the positions of the Islamic Republic on November 5 not only targeted part of Iran's defensive and missile capabilities but also inflicted damage on a portion of its nuclear program. In remarks made in the Israeli parliament (Knesset), Netanyahu emphasized that this is no secret and that a 'special section of Iran's nuclear program' was targeted in this attack. However, he clarified that the path for the Islamic Republic to acquire nuclear weapons is still not blocked. Netanyahu mentioned that after the return of Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, to the White House, Israel's ability to act against Iran's nuclear program will be reassessed. He added that Israel's decision to refrain from attacking 'special targets' within Iran in response to missile attacks from the Islamic Republic was not due to a U.S. deadline. Axios reported on Friday, November 25, citing two Israeli officials, that Israel's attack on Parchin on November 5 has significantly complicated the development of nuclear detonation devices by the Islamic Republic. According to the report, the attack on the 'Talghan 2' site destroyed a complex device essential for designing and testing plastic explosives surrounding uranium in a nuclear device. Satellite imagery of the Parchin military site after the Israeli attack on November 6, 1403, shows complete destruction of Talghan 2. Axios, citing American and Israeli officials, reported that the Islamic Republic has resumed sensitive nuclear research over the past year but has not yet taken steps toward producing nuclear weapons. Israeli officials told Axios that if the Islamic Republic intends to produce nuclear weapons, it must replace the destroyed device, which Israel could identify. One official stated that this device is a 'bottleneck' for nuclear bomb production, and without it, the Islamic Republic will face difficulties. Axios had earlier reported that during the November 5 attack, an ultra-secret nuclear weapons research site of the Islamic Republic in Parchin was destroyed. According to American and Israeli officials, the attack significantly harmed the Iranian government's efforts to resume research on nuclear weapons. A former Israeli official familiar with the attack told Axios that the strike destroyed complex equipment used for designing plastic explosives surrounding uranium in a nuclear device, which is necessary for detonating it. The Islamic Republic has always claimed that its nuclear program is peaceful, and its representation at the United Nations refrained from commenting on Axios's report. The Talghan 2 site, located in the Parchin military complex 20 kilometers southeast of Tehran, was one of the targets of the Israeli attack on November 5. Talghan 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 for testing explosives necessary to activate a nuclear device. Satellite images released from Talghan 2 following the November 5 attack indicate complete destruction. Axios reported that recent activities at Talghan 2 are part of the Iranian government's efforts to conduct research that could be used for developing nuclear weapons or for civilian purposes. An American official stated that recent activities at Talghan 2 may have laid the groundwork for nuclear weapons production. He described these activities as ultra-secret, adding that only a small portion of the Islamic Republic's officials were aware of them, while most officials had no knowledge of them. 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 research that could be used for nuclear weapons. Axios previously reported that the White House had warned Iranian officials about their suspicious research activities in a direct and private conversation in June of this year. Axios reported that Americans hoped their warning would lead to a halt in the Iranian government's nuclear activities, but Tehran continued its activities. An American official stated that months before Israel's November 5 attack, there was 'widespread concern' about the Islamic Republic's activities at Talghan 2. The Islamic Republic's nuclear research even prompted the Director of National Intelligence of the United States to change his assessment of Iran's nuclear program. The Wall Street Journal reported on August 10 of this year that the National Intelligence report to Congress did not contain the statement found in previous years 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 the Islamic Republic's positions in response to the October 10 missile attack, Talghan 2 was selected as a target. According to officials, Joe Biden asked Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities to prevent a large-scale war between the Iranian government and Israel. However, since Talghan 2 was not part of the declared nuclear program of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian government cannot acknowledge the significance of the attack on the site without admitting to violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty. An American official told Axios that Israel's attack on Talghan 2 conveyed the message that the Israelis have significant intelligence oversight even on ultra-secret matters known to only a few Iranian officials. The attack on November 5 involved a 'precise and targeted' operation with at least 100 fighter jets, targeting over 20 military positions mainly related to the Islamic Republic's air defense in the provinces of Tehran, Semnan, Ilam, and Khuzestan. These retaliatory strikes by Israel followed the missile attack from the Islamic Republic on October 10, during which over 180 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. Israel chose to attack the Islamic Republic's military positions amidst widespread speculation about the possibility of strikes on nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and even political and military figures, including Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. David Albright, a former UN weapons inspector, stated in a post on social media that Israel targeted a building in Parchin named 'Talghan 2,' which was 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 'Talghan 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 show that Israel damaged three other buildings located 320 meters from 'Talghan 2.' In two of these three buildings, solid fuel for ballistic missiles was mixed. An American government employee has been accused of leaking classified documents regarding Israel's attack on Iran. Netanyahu told Iranians: Your government spent $2.3 billion to attack Israel. Netanyahu: We have full agreement with Trump on the threats from the Iranian government. Zarif says Tehran will respond to Israel's attack 'at the right time.' Washington warns: An attack by the Islamic Republic from Iraq will face military retaliation from Israel. The Wall Street Journal: Tehran has told regional countries it will give a complex response to Israel. American and Israeli generals are negotiating about the 'threats' from the Iranian government. U.S. warning: We cannot deter Israel from responding to a possible attack by the Islamic Republic. Khamenei and the IRGC reiterate; the response to Israel is 'certain.' Deployment of U.S. strategic bombers; new warning from Washington to Tehran.