Abedin Taherkeneh / EPA
What is the real danger of Iranian rich uranium? Tehran guarantees that his program has peaceful purposes, Israel attacked the country like never by fearing nuclear bomb, but never recognized or denied the existence of its nuclear arsenal.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran began last Friday, after a quick climb of tensions that has the Iranian nuclear capacity on the table. In a first spot of attacks, the Israeli government aimed uranium enrichment facilities and argued that the regime in Tehran would be close to developing a bomba nuclear.
The attacks took place during negotiations between the Persian country and the United States to redesign a nuclear agreement and prevent the development of weapons of this type, conversations that are now in stand-by.
Although they will insist that their nuclear program has purely civil purposes, organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) for the accelerated advance of uranium enrichment in various nuclear centers in the country.
Some of these centers were hit by Israelite missiles. Iran confirmed damage to the nuclear facilities of Fordow, south of the capital, and Isfahan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Iranian nuclear program represents a existential threat to Israel.
How advanced is the nuclear program of Iran?
There are two types of nuclear programs: Civil and Military. Civil programs are dedicated exclusively to nuclear power plants to generate electricity, while the military aims to produce atomic bombs. The Iranian regime states that its nuclear program is exclusively civil.
Many experts and western intelligence agencies agree that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon. However, the advance in the levels of uranium enrichment of Iran indicates that there may be this goal and is a cause for concern.
According to AIEA, in three months, The Islamic Republic doubled its uranium stock Enriched to 60% purity, reaching the 409 pounds produced. This level of enrichment is far above what is necessary for civil energy production and approaches the military degree. About 42 pounds would be enough to produce a nuclear bomb if this uranium were enriched at 90%.
Europe and the United States argue that there are no civil reasons to enrich 60%uranium. In fact, countries that came to this level have become bombs producers.
Advantage in negotiation or pump path?
“As confirmed by the AIEA, Iran has accelerated its enrichment to 60%, as well as an increase in missile tests,” Hans Jakob Schindler, Safety expert at Counter Extremism Project, told DW.
For you, this may indicate an attempt by the country of gain advantage in negotiations with the US. “But it is also possible to interpret that [Teerão] It’s running toward a nuclear bomb, ”he said.
The negotiations between Iran and the US were expected to continue in Oman, but were suspended due to the recent escalation. Before the start of Israelite bombardment, the Iran announced a New Uranium Enrichment Center In retaliation of a censorship proposed by the AIEA against its nuclear program – the first under the treaty of nuclear non -proliferation (PMS) in 20 years.
Currently, there is no evidence that the country has managed to enrich its uranium at 90%. However, experts warn that given the amount of accumulated material and its technical capacity, Iran could reach this level relatively rapidly.
In addition, the country would also need to develop a functional warhead and a missile capable of transporting it. Israel claims that it has identified advances in the Iranian regime to obtain a metallic uranium nucleus and an initiator to trigger a nuclear explosion.
Did you go back after attacks?
In his attacks, Israel aimed not only nuclear facilities, but also members of the Iranian military leadership and scientists involved in the nuclear program. Satellite images indicate different levels of destruction in two key investigation and enrichment facilities in Natanz and Isfahan. The AIEA confirmed damage to both.
Iran’s atomic agency recognized that there was also damage to the nuclear center of Fordow, south of the capital. The total extension of destruction is still uncertain.
Walter Postch, a specialist in Iran from the Vienna Conflict and Conflict Management Institute, told DW that the general impact It was serious for Iran.
“More important than dead generals are nuclear scientiststhat accompany the program [nuclear] From the beginning and hold all institutional knowledge, ”he explained. According to Reuters, at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have died so far in Israeli attacks.“ They play a key role. At the level of academic experience and practical knowledge, this is a serious blow. ”
In addition to nuclear facilities and military and scientific elites, missile bases and oil refineries were also among the targets of bombing.
Why does Iran want a nuclear program?
The Iranian nuclear program goes back to the decade of 1950when the then pro-chief government began to develop a civil program with US help. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which placed in power a fundamentalist government, increased international concerns that Tehran could use the nuclear program for military purposes.
In 2002, international inspectors discovered highly enriched uranium in Natanz’s nuclear installation, which led to the imposition of international sanctions. In 2015, Iran signed a historic agreement with the US and other Western countries, known as a global joint action plan. The agreement limited the Iranian nuclear program and imposed rigid controls in exchange for the relief of sanctions.
However, US President Donald Trump, withdrew the country from the pact in 2018during his first term, and imposed new sanctions.
In response, Iran gradually reduced the implementation of the agreement and increased its level of uranium enrichment, exceeding the limit of 3.67% defined by Western powers.
And Israel? No one knows for sure. Why?
But if Iran has its nuclear program in the sights of Israel and the world, to this day Existence of its nuclear arsenal, although several groups and organizations ensure that it exists and that Israel has about 90 nuclear weapons, but the number may extend to 400.
Israel is also the only country in the Middle East not to have signed the non -nuclear non -proliferation treaty. Like North Korea, South Sudan and – as we were remembered very recently for the worst reasons – a.
And despite maintaining this deliberate policy of ambiguity in relation to nuclear weapons, Israel threatens their enemies with them.
Last November, Israelite Minister Amihai Eliyahu said a nuclear attack on Gaza would be a form of response to Hamas’s attack on October 7. Was the statement a confirmation that Israel has nuclear capacity today?
