Israel finds itself on edge as Iran contemplates potentially escalating the conflict to a nuclear level, raising concerns of triggering a global conflict.
The possibility of Iran ramping up its enrichment activities to acquire a nuclear weapon has sent shockwaves through the region and in the West.
Iran has already vowed to launch a “stronger” offensive against Israel‘s response to Saturday’s attack.
A new government-funded billboard in Palestine Square in Tehran was unveiled last night after Iran launched hundreds of drones, missiles, and rockets at Israel with Hebrew text.
Senior Iranian figures have urged Supreme Leader Khamenei to reconsider the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, with calls to cancel the existing fatwa against their assembly.
The shift in rhetoric has led to speculation in the West about Iran’s intentions and the Supreme Leader’s willingness to entertain the idea of pursuing nuclear armament.
Mahmoud-Reza Aghamir, a prominent nuclear physics professor with ties to the Iranian regime, further fuelled suspicions by suggesting that “it would be a lot easier to build a bomb than to keep holding so much enriched uranium at high levels”.
Iran’s possession of 150 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent has raised alarms about the potential for weaponisation.
Israel is closely monitoring these developments, aware that any move towards nuclear capabilities by Iran could prompt a significant military response from the United States.
The fear is that Iran could discreetly advance its nuclear program, leaving intelligence agencies as the only means of detecting such activities.
The recent missile and drone attack on Israel by Iran, which Hamas praised as a justified response to an earlier incident, has added to the tensions in the region.
Hamas, supported by Iran, has called for continued backing in its ongoing conflict with Israel, emphasising its fight for Palestinian rights and statehood.
Hamas said the attack was a “deserved response to the crime” of a strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria two weeks ago.
Celebrations erupted in Tehran following the attack on Israel, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Commander, Gen. Hossein Salami, describing the operation as more successful than anticipated.
Salami highlighted the complexities of overcoming Israel‘s advanced air defence systems and emphasised the precision and effectiveness of the Iranian strike.
Tyler Mitchell