Iranian Nuclear Enrichment Could Ignite The Region: Israeli Defence Minister
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Salma Hossein
- . May 5, 2023
- . Update: May 5, 2023 3:51 pm
Yoav Gallant, the defence minister of Israel, has said that the Islamic Republic of Iran could have enough enriched uranium for making nuclear weapons and warned that Iranian nuclear enrichment could ignite the entire region.
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The Minister of Defence of Israel said on Thursday, “Make no mistake, Iran will not be satisfied by a single nuclear bomb.” He was on a visit to Athens, the Capital of Greece. His comments came amid rising international concerns over Iran’s potential to make nuclear weapons.
In March this year, an official from the United States said that Iran had the potential to make nuclear bombs within months. Experts also claimed that Iran has enough fuel to build “several” atomic bombs.
During a visit to Athens, the Israeli minister claimed, “So far, Iran has gained material enriched to 20% and 60% for five nuclear weapons. Iranian progress, enrichment to 90%, would be a grave mistake on Iran’s part and could ignite the region.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations-specialized intergovernmental organization, also expressed concern over Iran’s activities. In March, tensions grew between IAEA and Iran over the changes at the Fordow nuclear plant. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran should not have carried out unilateral changes at the Fordow nuclear plant.
In November last year, the Fordow plant in Iran witnessed a boost in the enrichment of uranium to 60 per cent. Iran also turned off the inspection cameras at the site at Fordow.
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Michael Herzog, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, also said that the Iranian nuclear bomb can be “a threat of existential dimension” to Israel. He reportedly said that Israel was determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities or making nuclear bombs.
In February, Israel said that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with world powers can be difficult to achieve.
