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Concerns over Iran’s nuclear violations continue to increase tensions in the region this week. Israel’s Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman observed that “a confrontation with Iran is only a matter of time, and not a lot of time” amid fears that “no diplomatic process or agreement will stop” Iran’s nuclear programme.
Israel’s Air Force this week resumed training for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities – the first such drills in two years. IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi reportedly ordered the air force to train “intensely” in simulating a strike on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Iran, meanwhile, kicked off an air force drill of its own, a week after holding another major aerial exercise. Iranian state TV claimed that bombers, jet fighters and attack drones featured in the drill, which included laser-guided missiles, across Iran’s 12 air bases.
Last month, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that “Iran’s nuclear programme has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning… We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon”.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid a few weeks ago that “every option” is on the table in tackling Iran, despite the Biden administration continuing to seek Iran’s return to compliance with the JCPOA in long-stalled talks in Vienna. Talks have stalled since June and following the arrival of new ultra-hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi.
