Katz: Iran nuclear facilities ‘more exposed than ever’ following Israeli strikes
New defense minister says conditions in place to ‘remove threat of annihilation hanging over State of Israel’; FM Sa’ar calls Iran nuclear threat the region’s most serious issue
Newly appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Iran’s nuclear sites are more vulnerable than ever, following Israel’s strikes on its air defense sites last month.
“Iran today is more exposed than ever to damage to its nuclear facilities. There is a chance of achieving the most important goal, to thwart and remove the threat of annihilation from hanging over the State of Israel,” Katz said during his first meeting with the IDF General Staff Forum, in remarks provided by his office.
Iran twice fired missiles directly on Israeli territory this year, prompting Israel to retaliate, most recently on October 26 when the Israeli Air Force hit Iranian military facilities.
In an hours-long operation, dozens of Israeli aircraft targeted strategic military sites across Iran — specifically drone and ballistic missile manufacturing and launch sites, as well as air defense batteries — with explosions reported in the areas of Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan and Shiraz.
Iran has pledged to retaliate, while Israel has threatened major consequences against Tehran if it does.
Earlier Monday, Gideon Sa’ar, who replaced Katz as foreign minister last week, said that “the most important question by far, for the future of this region, for the security of the State of Israel, is to avoid Iran getting a nuclear weapon.”
He said the issue has been the most important topic of discussion between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President-elect Donald Trump.
“President Trump made it clear during the time of his electoral campaign that he understands very well the dangers of that nuclear Iranian project,” said Sa’ar. “I’m sure that we will be able to work together to stabilize the region, in order to guarantee the future of the region.”
Arguing that it was ineffective, Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear accord between Tehran and Western powers including Washington that sought to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Tehran has since enriched uranium up to 60 percent, getting close to the 90 percent needed for atomic weapons grade uranium.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Trump intends to reinstate the “maximum pressure” policy his previous administration imposed against Iran.
During his first term, Trump installed drastic sanctions against Tehran’s oil industry with the intent of pressuring the Islamic Republic against advancing its nuclear program and funding terror groups across the Middle East.
After collapsing to 250,000 barrels a day by 2020 under Trump, Iran’s oil shipments reached a six-year high in September this year as the Biden administration discreetly negotiated with the Islamic Republic to release US citizens detained there.
AFP contributed to this report.
