According to Axios on Wednesday, Israel has warned the United States and several European nations that uranium enrichment by Iran above 60 percent might result in an Israeli military strike.
In a report published last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that its inspectors had discovered “particles” of uranium that had been enriched to an 83.7 percent level at Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility.
According to the report, Iran has an estimated 3,760 kilograms (8,289 pounds) of uranium as of February 12—an increase of 87.1 kilograms (192 pounds) since its previous quarterly report in November.
Regarding enrichment, 60% of that, or 87.5 kilograms (192 pounds), is nearly 90% or weapons-grade.
According to an unidentified Israeli official quoted by Axios, the minor amounts of uranium enriched to an 84% purity level are not viewed as a red flag by Jerusalem “since Tehran did not stockpile any of the material at that level,” the official says.
According to the official, Jerusalem was not designating Iranian enrichment to 90% as a “red line” because Tehran might start stockpiling enriched uranium at levels just below that.
Similarly, according to the article, the Israeli government has advised Western partners that any Iranian advancement above the 60% barrier might precipitate military strikes against Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
According to Israeli officials, their Iranian colleagues have received this message.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly requested the U.S. During his most recent trip to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Jerusalem to hasten the delivery of the four KC-46 tankers it ordered from Washington the previous year.
Israel reportedly needs the aerial refueling tankers, set for delivery at the end of 2024, for a possible military strike in Iran.
According to reports, Austin informed Netanyahu and Gallant that while the US would make an effort to deploy the planes earlier, doing so would be challenging owing to US military requirements.
Last month, U.S. Colin Kahl, the Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy, made remarks that paralleled those in an interview, claiming that Tehran could build enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb in less than two weeks.
According to Netanyahu, Iran will develop nuclear weapons without a real military threat or actual military action.
“It gets tougher [to stop] the longer you wait,” We’ve been waiting a long time. I assure you that I will use every legal means to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He continued that it is not just in the interests of Israel but also the interests of the United States and the entire globe.
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