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
Russian Ministry of Defense: 37 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 4 hours over regions of Russia and the Black Sea.
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.

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

Ultra-Orthodox draft revolt exposes Israeli fractures: NYT

State Dept official admits criticism of 'Israel' can lead to visa loss

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

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

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