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The Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned on Tuesday that Iran is within a few weeks of accumulating the fissile material needed to create their own nuclear weapon, with Iran already on maneuvers to protect its centrifuge manufacturing capabilities. Alongside these developments Israel has conducted the largest military drill in its history, which has been dubbed “Chariots of Fire.
During a conference at Herzilya’s Reichman university, Gantz warned that Iran is only “a few weeks away” from accumulating enough sufficient fissile material to build a nuclear weapon. He went on to say Iran is also working to finish production and instillation of 1,000 advanced centrifuges for enriching uranium, including a new underground site at the Natanz nuclear facility. Gantz stated: “Iran continues to accumulate irreversible knowledge and experience in the development, research, production and operation of advanced centrifuges. It stands just a few weeks away from accumulating enough fissile material that will be sufficient for a first bomb, holds 60kg of enriched material at 60%, produces metallic uranium at the enrichment level of 20%, and prevents the IAEA from accessing its facilities”.
Last month the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran was setting up a new workshop for producing centrifuge parts at its Natanz nuclear facility. The IAEA’s Director-General Rafael Grossi said the machines were moved from Karaj, near Tehran, to the new location at Natanz. Presumably to protect it from airstrikes and sabotage, with the former facility at Karaj, according to Iran, already being sabotaged in June, which the country blames on Israel. With the nuclear deal talks in Vienna stalling and Iran moving closer to nuclear capability, Gantz had this to say: “The price for tackling the Iranian challenge on a global or regional level is higher than it was a year ago and lower than it will be in a year.”
These statements come alongside Israel conducting the largest military training drill in its history. The drill, coined as “Chariots of Fire”, includes all Israeli military sections both regular and reserve, and is meant to simulate a multifront and multidimensional war against enemies on land, sea, air and also the domain of cyber warfare.
The drill is aimed at improving the readiness of the entire military and examine its capabilities for carrying out a prolonged and powerful campaign against attacking enemy forces. It is hoped the drill will also improve cooperation between the IDF, government departments, security organisations and civilians, in the case that a full emergency scenario suddenly emerges, with multiple areas in a constant state of evolution. It will also see the IDF’s “victory concept”. Focusing on achieving operational goals at a quick pace, with attacks, defense and multidimensional maneuvers; whilst also building on lessons learned from drills over the last decade.
Gantz is due to travel to Washington D.C on 18th May, to meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
