Escalating Tensions: US and Israel Target Iranian Nuclear Sites. The conflict between Israel and Iran has intensified, with the US potentially joining the fray. According to reports, US President Donald Trump is considering military action against Iranian nuclear sites, following Israel’s airstrikes on key facilities.
Trump has publicly rejected the assessment of his own intelligence community, which maintains that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon. Instead, he insists that Iran is “very close” to acquiring a bomb. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has pushed back, stating that she and Trump are “on the same page” regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump warned on social media. He also called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” which experts say would require Iran to dismantle its nuclear program and missile capabilities entirely.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to show “no mercy” to Israel and declared that Iran will never compromise with the Zionists. The Iranian military has responded to Israeli airstrikes, launching missiles and drones toward Israel.
The potential involvement of the US in the conflict has raised concerns about escalation. A former Israeli ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, fears that Iran might attack a US ship or base to drag the US into the war, increasing pressure on Trump to intervene.
Fordo nuclear site ‘difficult’ to destroy, former nuclear inspector Inspector says:
“Nuclear physicist and former UN nuclear inspector David Albright says Iran’s underground nuclear facility – Fordo – is 80m (262 feet) below ground and “very difficult to destroy”.
explains that their experiences in Iraq helped the International Inspection Agency of Atomic Energy organisation develop “incredibly good ways of investigating secret programmes”.
He adds: “Now that Israel’s striking, I believe Israel can put that site out of operation for a long time. The US could destroy it completely.”
Albright, who is also the founder of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, says that Fordo is only “one of the more formidable” nuclear sites.
But it isn’t the only one, he adds, and so should not be over emphasised.
Fordo was originally built as part of Iran’s early 2000s Crash nuclear weapons programme”.
The conflict has resulted in significant damage and loss of life in both Iran and Israel. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has confirmed that two Iranian centrifuge production facilities have been hit. Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system has intercepted most missiles, but the cost of operation is estimated to be $250 million per night.
As the situation unfolds, experts warn that the conflict could have far-reaching consequences for the region. With the US potentially joining the conflict, the stakes are higher than ever, and the international community is watching closely.