Irans Nuke Claim Fake News? US Intelligence Disputes Israel's Vindication for Bombing Iran
Intelligence agencies of the U.S. cast doubt on Israel's rationale for launching offensive actions against Iran.
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Israel bombs Iran, citing the atomic bomb being a stone's throw away. But does that hold water? Reports by US intelligence agencies brazenly contradict Israel's justification, as per CNN. Since the end of last week, Israel has been pelting Iran with rockets. The rationale for this offensive? Iran's nuclear program has passed a critical threshold, necessitating a strike on the nation's atomic facilities.
However, US intelligence agencies' findings paint a starkly different picture. The report quotes these agencies as stating that Iran not only lacks the immediate desire for a nuclear weapon but is also up to three years away from manufacturing one and potentially deploying it to other countries. If true, the reasoning provided by the Netanyahu government for the ongoing attacks appears sketchy.
The Loop Iran Conflict: Is Israel Playing Sloppy Cards, USA Distancing from the Threat? Likewise, US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard had already expressed her views when she addressed the Senate Intelligence Committee at the end of March. When probed about this, US President Donald Trump disregarded her statement. "I could not care less what she said. I believe they were about to have it," Trump tells AP.
But US intelligence agencies also question the immediacy and effectiveness of Israel's current attacks. The nuclear program would only be delayed by a few months, a senior official revealed to CNN. Although the uranium enrichment facility in Natans was severely damaged, another, heavily fortified one in Fordo remained practically unscathed. US experts opine that Israel is not equipped to damage such heavily fortified facilities.
Lastly, former diplomat and Middle East expert Brett McGurk, now an analyst at CNN, concludes, "Israel can hover over these nuclear facilities and render them inoperative, but if you truly want to obliterate them, you either need a U.S. military strike or an agreement."
The Loop Iran Threat: Is the Countdown Really on? The US, under President Donald Trump, has persistently claimed it does not wish to engage in active conflict. Alternatively, sources tell CNN that the US government is aware that military intervention is necessary to shut down Iran's nuclear program. According to CNN, some hawks in the US government are also pushing for military support for Israel. Trump, however, is publicly coercing Iran to ink an agreement.
UPDATE: US Plans to Send Second Aircraft Carrier to the Middle East
Recently, evaluations by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and US intelligence agencies have differed. CENTCOM suggested that Iran could acquire an operational nuclear bomb more swiftly than previously presumed. Consequently, several US military officials, including General Michael Kurilla, Head of U.S. Central Command, have demanded additional resources for the Middle East—for the security of their own troops and potential support for Israel. However, CNN reports that the US military would only intervene in self-defense, not bolster Israel's offensive attacks.
Sources: ntv.de, as
Breakdown:
Most experts peg the time it would take Iran to create a deliverable nuclear warhead to between several months to two years. While estimates suggest it could happen quicker, some predict it could take five to six weeks after acquiring sufficient weapons-grade uranium[1]. Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities are motivated by concerns over Iran's rapid nuclear development, but their impact is questionable[2][3]. Israel lacks the military prowess required to obliterate heavily fortified facilities such as the underground Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.
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- The US intelligence agencies have expressed a contrasting viewpoint regarding Iran's nuclear program, stating that Iran is not imminently seeking a nuclear weapon and is at least three years away from manufacturing one, which raises questions about Israel's justification for the ongoing attacks.
- Despite the US's repeated claims of not wanting to engage in active conflict, some hawks within the US government are advocating for military support for Israel, according to CNN, as evaluations by US military officials and intelligence agencies suggest that military intervention may be necessary to effectively shut down Iran's nuclear program.
