Is Iran on the Brink of Nuclear Armament? Insights from Israeli Ambassador

New Delhi, June 14 (NationPress) The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has leveled serious accusations against Iran, claiming they are "deceiving and very close" to acquiring nuclear weapons. He defended the military actions taken against Tehran, stating that the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu felt compelled to take pre-emptive measures to protect the nation's very existence.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Azar asserted, "Our intelligence indicates that the Iranians were nearing the capability to arm a nuclear weapon, utilizing the time provided by President Trump for negotiations. They established a secret group focused on nuclear weapon assembly, presenting an imminent threat to our survival. We had no choice but to act to avert destruction, as the Iranians aim to eradicate our state."

The Israeli diplomat criticized Iran for violating trust and continuing its nuclear ambitions. "We are certain that nuclear technology, which has existed for 80 years, is not overly complex. The critical issue is whether Iran would once again disregard its commitments not to assemble nuclear weapons. We were aware of their deceit..."

Azar highlighted that the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has repeatedly reported Iran's violations of the safeguards agreement under the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty). He emphasized, "This is an existential matter for us. A regime as radical as the Ayatollah's, which vows to annihilate us, is not to be taken lightly. Their pursuit of weapons is even more alarming."

The IAEA has urged Iran to "halt and reverse nuclear escalations," cease uranium enrichment, engage in meaningful dialogue, and provide credible assurances regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

Azar remarked, "The IAEA is fulfilling its role, but we have urged them to act on the information provided by us and other Western nations. Their response has been slow, yet they have confirmed that Iran is cheating again. This precarious situation necessitated Israel's pre-emptive actions to ensure its survival."

On Friday, Netanyahu announced the commencement of 'Operation Rising Lion', a targeted military campaign aimed at countering the Iranian nuclear threat. The IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) reported the elimination of nine Iranian nuclear scientists during the operation's initial phase.

Azar stated, "We are essentially engaged in a full-scale war with Iran. They have been attacking us for 30 years, sponsoring terrorism, and providing military support to groups like Hezbollah and militias in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and beyond."

He continued, "Iran is building a significant ballistic missile program aimed at our destruction and is actively pursuing a nuclear arsenal. The conflict with Iran is ongoing; the real question is how long it will persist and what it will take for them to realize they cannot act without consequence."

In response to the attacks, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that Israel would face severe retribution for its actions against Iran.

Azar concluded, "We take these threats seriously. Israel is currently in a state of emergency, with citizens advised to remain close to shelters. Recent missile strikes have tragically resulted in the deaths of two Israeli civilians. Iran's actions constitute a war crime as they target urban areas."

He noted that various nations, including those in the Gulf, have expressed support for Israel's military actions since Friday. "Countries in the region share common interests with us, many have established peace agreements, and they are rightly concerned about potential Iranian aggression against them as well. They seem relieved that Israel is addressing a threat that endangers them too."