Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area
Israeli media: "Israel" won the battle but lost the war strategically and politically
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport's airspace closed to air traffic following missile launch from Yemen

Israeli security officials doubtful of attacking Iran

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: New York Times
  • 20 Dec 2021 15:26
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Israeli security officials say "Israel" does not have the ability to destroy Iran's nuclear program, not anytime soon.

  • x
  • Israeli Boeing Stratotanker and F-16 fighter jets flying over Al-Quds
    Israeli Boeing Stratotanker and F-16 fighter jets flying over Al-Quds

In a New York Times article, Iran and "Israel" pundits Ronen Bergman and Patrick Kingsley discussed the prospects of the Israeli occupation launching an attack on Iran.

"Israel's" security minister alluded to the military option against Iran, even ordering forces to prepare for the option, which was a warning that "Israel" was willing to take matters into its own hands if a new nuclear agreement did not "sufficiently constrain Iran."

The authors cast doubt on this claim, as several former and current Israeli military officials and experts have said that "Israel" does not possess the ability to pull off such an assault against Iran's nuclear program; not anytime soon. In fact, such an attack would take at least two years to prepare for, if its goal was to cause significant damage to Iran's nuclear program.

A smaller, more limited strike that would cause some damage to the program may happen sooner. But the resources to damage dozens of nuclear sites, as threatened by the Israelis, is not possible at the moment, as its resources are not available.

Read more: Believing "Israel" Would Ask Before Doing

Why ramp up the threat then?

Related News

Judge tosses Trump’s $15bln defamation case against New York Times

NYT vows to defeat Trump's $15 billion defamation suit in court

Recent discussions of this military move against Iran are part of the Israeli pressure campaign on countries negotiating with Iran to make sure they do not agree to "a bad deal."

So far, "Israel's" approach has been to curb Iran's nuclear program through a combination of aggressive diplomacy and intelligence operations (assassinations, sabotage, and cyberattacks). 

In September, the head of the Israeli armed forces, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, said large parts of a military budget increase had been allocated to preparing a strike on Iran. Early this month, the Mossad chief, David Barnea, said Israel would do “whatever it takes” to stop Iran from making a nuclear bomb.

This month, during a visit to the United States, Defense Minister Benny Gantz publicly announced that he had ordered the Israeli Army to prepare for a possible military strike on Iran.

"Israel", on the one hand, does not have the ability to launch an attack against Iran by air because it lacks the newer type of bunker-buster bombs, which would need large warplanes that it does not possess, meaning that underground nuclear sites would have to be struck for days or even weeks. It also has a shortage of refueling planes, which further complicates the matter. "Israel" has already ordered eight new Boeing refueling planes but will not receive any before late 2024.

On the other hand, the Israeli occupation would also have to "defend" itself against Iranian fighter jets, ballistic missiles, and an array of weapons that were not available in 2012 (when a strike against Iran was being seriously contemplated), not to mention the possibility of an attack from Lebanon and Gaza if the situation were to spiral out of its control.

“It is very possible that when the Israeli planes try to land back in Israel, they will find that the Iranian missiles destroyed their runways,” said Tal Inbar, an aviation expert and former head of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

Red lines

There was no clear answer on what "red lines Iran must cross" in order for "Israel" to opt for a military strike against it. But an Israeli security official said it would likely be Iran enriching uranium to 90% (weapons-grade) purity. 

If that were to happen, then the occupation would have to intensify actions against Iran. Currently, Iran is enriching uranium at 60%.

Until then, it seems the Israelis do not possess the ability to launch a strike against Iran and that explains why they have been pushing the US toward a confrontation, as it is the only party capable of doing so.

  • Israel
  • New York Times
  • Iran
  • Nuclear program
  • Vienna talks

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh: Egypt

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS