Threatening the military option against Tehran... Will Israel actually strike the nuclear facilities?

Occupied Jerusalem -

Estimates in Tel Aviv indicate that the nuclear talks in Vienna will end in "failure." In any case, Israeli analysts believe that Israel is facing the Iranian threat, and that a military solution has become a reality.

Analysts believe that Israel is serious about publicizing the “military strike” paper, in contrast to the positions of the major countries that tend to return to the nuclear agreement concluded in 2015, without updates or changes to its content, and 3 years after the withdrawal of the United States under the administration of Donald Trump from the agreement in 2018.

In anticipation of any future agreement between the great powers and Tehran, Tel Aviv is preparing for all options and paths, including diplomacy, but the most important is the covert operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

In this context, the Israeli Defense Ministry, with the support of the government, intends to purchase large quantities of advanced weapons, amounting to $1.7 billion, in preparation for a possible attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities.

Gantz (right) and Esper during the signing of an agreement in which Washington pledges to maintain Israel's military superiority (Israeli press)

Consultations with Washington

The Israeli threat of the military option against the Iranian nuclear program and the official announcement of the conclusion of advanced weapons deals comes, while the Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz will visit Washington next week to hold security and military meetings and consultations regarding the Iranian nuclear project, the possibility of returning to the 2015 agreement, and the options before Tel Aviv, according to The Israeli journalist specializing in Arab and Islamic affairs, Yoav Stern.

Stern explained to Al Jazeera Net that the arms deals indicate how serious Israel is in confronting Iranian threats, and any threat to "Israeli national security."

But Stern rules out that Tel Aviv will soon carry out a strong strike on the nuclear facilities deep inside Iran, due to the lack of complete readiness for such an operation, despite it being placed firmly on the Israeli agenda.

He pointed out that in the last decade, the Israeli army had obtained financial and military resources for its ground and intelligence weapons, to prepare to repel any threats to Israel, including nuclear or Iranian entrenchment in Syria, and arming militias loyal to Tehran there.

The Israeli journalist believes that Tel Aviv will continue the secret operations attributed to it against Iranian nuclear facilities, and in parallel continue arming and preparing within the military option to carry out a future attack in Iran.

specific attacks

These preparations are in harmony with what was stated by the former head of the intelligence department in the Israeli army, General Tamir Heyman, who emphasized that the military option and attacking Iran was still on the table.

His statements were mentioned in the Military Intelligence magazine issued by the Israeli army.

Regarding preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb, Heyman said that "there is a possibility of a specific attack to disable nuclear facilities, in parallel with the existence of a secret channel through which they are trying to reach an agreement with Iran."

But the former intelligence official objected to the diplomatic track and return to the 2015 agreement, saying that "there are large gaps between the two parties, and the West and the United States cannot return to the outlines of the previous agreement because the reality has changed, and there are a number of violations by the Iranians."

On the possibility of Israel launching a military strike on Tehran, Heyman said that Israel is in a growing conflict with Iran and its forces, but Tehran is "aware that the rules have changed. When they attack an Israeli ship, the world responds to them that this is an attack on the free world and shipping routes, which embarrasses Iran in particular. When the victims are non-Israelis.

Former General Yaakov Amidror: Any agreement on the Iranian nuclear deal would be bad for Israel (Al-Jazeera)

military solution

In his assessment of the Israeli options when returning to the nuclear agreement, the researcher at the "Al-Quds Institute for Strategic Studies", retired Israeli general Yaakov Amidror, asserts that any agreement that will be reached in the future will be bad, and threaten Israeli national security.

Amidror explained that the position of the administration of US President Joe Biden, even before returning to the talks in Vienna, raises many questions and confusion about the fate of the Iranian nuclear program.

The researcher pointed out that the only way to stop the Iranian bomb and reach a good agreement from the Israeli point of view is through a real threat of effective military action.

Amidror, who served as the national security advisor to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, believes that the options for Naftali Bennett's government lie in seriously brandishing the military option, along with the principled position that any future agreement with Iran does not bind Israel.

Amidror ruled out the threat of a military option against Iran and the announcement of advanced arms deals in the context of political rivalries, stressing that there is an Israeli consensus against the Iranian nuclear, and an agreement between the various parties and political vehicles to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear capability.

He believes that Tel Aviv is anticipating events and preparing to legitimize any secret and specific operation directed in the future to gain time, waiting for the appropriate timing for a strong military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities with the aim of disabling them for many years.

Israel updates its military plans and readiness in preparation for striking Iran's nuclear facilities (Getty Images)

Plans and readiness

The former spokesman for the Israeli army, General Ronen Manelis, agreed with Amidror's proposal, stressing in statements to the official Israeli television "Kan" that all successive Israeli governments have prepared military plans to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, but since the 2015 agreement they have not been updated.

Manelis, who previously held the position of Director-General of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, believes that Israel is waving the military option against the Iranian nuclear, and stressing that any future agreement between Tehran and the great powers does not need to buy time to launch a strong strike against the Iranian nuclear program.

The spokesman asserts that if Tel Aviv's beliefs are strengthened that the Iranian nuclear poses an existential threat to it, the Israeli army will not hesitate to attack Tehran and remove this threat from existence.

In response to the question posed whether Israel actually has the ability to launch a military strike on Iran, Manelis says that "the plans and equipment are there, but they must be modernized and developed, and on this basis the Israeli army is preparing with new and advanced weapons."