Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has accused the Biden administration of placating Iran’s drive to build a nuclear weapon, stating that Tehran seeks a nuclear Holocaust targeting Israel. He warned that Iran is planning to attack Israel with tens of thousands of missiles on multiple fronts. Israeli Brig. Gen (Res.) Yossi Kuperwasser also expressed concerns about the Biden administration’s approach to Iran, suggesting that they are avoiding confrontation in fear of provoking Iran to pursue a nuclear bomb.
This week, there has been a significant amount of regulatory, diplomatic, and congressional activity focused on Iran’s illicit atomic weapons program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for its lack of cooperation with inspectors, with the resolution initiated by Britain, France, and Germany. The Biden administration reportedly tried to dissuade the European countries from rebuking Iran, but ultimately agreed to join the European initiative. There has been speculation that Iran could produce the fissile material necessary for three nuclear bombs within a month.
In response to mounting pressure, the U.S. agreed to reprimand Iran at the IAEA, despite initial reluctance. The British, French, and German governments sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council outlining Iran’s alleged violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, but did not announce a “snap back” of U.N. sanctions against Iran. The Trump administration had previously withdrawn from the deal in 2018, arguing that it did not provide sufficient restrictions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader, is now overseeing the nuclear talks for Iran. He has denounced the efforts of the U.S. and the European Troika to manage Iran’s reactions to their actions. Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution to refer the issue of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons to the U.N. Security Council. A recent IAEA document revealed that Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60%, a step away from weapons-grade levels.
Overall, there are growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Biden administration’s approach to dealing with Iran. Israel, as a potential target of Iran’s aggression, has raised alarms about the dangers posed by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The international community, especially European countries, has been taking steps to address Iran’s violations of the 2015 nuclear deal, but there are uncertainties about the effectiveness of these measures. The situation remains tense, with the potential for escalation if Iran continues on its current path towards nuclear armament.
