‘Breakthrough’ reportedly brought Iran closer to the bomb than Israel previously thought

One of the main reasons that prompted Israel to attack Iran this month was a deeply worrying “breakthrough” by Iran in its nuclear weapons program that would have enabled it to build a nuclear bomb in a much shorter time than Israel had previously believed, Channel 12 reports.

A group of scientists were working secretively on the development of nuclear weapons in a manner that “deeply troubled” Israeli experts and decision-makers, the report says, noting that it is broadcasting the news within the limitations of Israeli military censorship.

There was a need to thwart this initiative and target the scientists involved, the report says. The scientists “were indeed eliminated.”

The Iranian breakthrough, combined with the fact that Iran had stockpiled 408 kilograms (900 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent, the report says, meant Israel assessed that Iran could break out to the bomb far more quickly than previously estimated.