Gantz: Iran is two months away from nuclear bomb

Tehran is two months away from nuclear capacity, Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned as he called on the international community to create a new prevention plan that did not involve relaunching the 2015 Iran deal.

“Iran is only two months away from acquiring the materials needed for a nuclear weapon,” Gantz told a gathering of 60 ambassadors in Tel Aviv.

Biden favors the relaunch of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action designed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which the United States withdrew in 2018.

The indirect talks negotiated by the European Union failed and allowed Iran to increase its enrichment of uranium necessary for the production of nuclear weapons.

“We don’t know if the Iranian regime will be ready to sign a deal and return to the negotiating table and the international community needs to build a workable ‘Plan B’ in order to stop Iran on its way to nuclear weapons.” , Gantz said. noted.

PM Naftali Bennett, IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General. Aviv Kohavi and Defense Minister Benny Gantz during a situation assessment visit to the Gaza Division, August 17, 2021 (Credit: KOBI GIDEON / GPO)

The preferred option, he said, is a diplomatic option.

“Ultimately, the goal is to come to an agreement ‘longer, stronger and broader’ than the last,” Gantz said. An “Iranian nuclear program could spur an arms race in the region and around the world,” he added.

But he hinted at much needed military action. “The State of Israel has the means to act and will not hesitate to do so – I do not exclude the possibility that Israel must act in the future to prevent a nuclear Iran,” Gantz said.

At present, he said, the “Iranian threat is based on dry land” with Tehran operating “through its proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Gaza.”

Regarding Iran’s air threat, Gantz said, “Iran uses drones and guided missiles. It’s maritime: disrupting international trade. Iran is also working in cyberspace.”

“Our assessment is that the UAV used in the Mercer Street attack was launched from Iranian territory and endorsed by Iranian leadership, ”Gantz said.

Iran’s capacity for conventional violence is increasing, Gantz said, explaining that Tehran has more than doubled its military investments in the past five years, from $ 22 billion to $ 49 billion.

“So far, all of Iran’s acts of aggression have been carried out without nuclear capabilities. Imagine what will happen if Iran achieves nuclear capabilities? ”He asked.

Gantz highlighted Iran’s activity in neighboring Lebanon, which is going through a serious economic crisis.

“Every couple of houses in Lebanon are used to store thousands of rockets and missiles. Iran and Hezbollah are exploiting the crisis in Lebanon and undermining the Lebanese government, ”Gantz said.

He explained that Israel had offered humanitarian aid to Lebanon three times. He sought to do this through third parties such as the Red Cross or another country with links to Lebanon.

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, Gantz said that it is “the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people” and that Israel is working to strengthen it with economic gestures such as building and work permits as well as regional infrastructure projects.

Gantz also spoke of Gaza and stressed that “Hamas’s actions in Gaza are harming the Palestinian people”.

He explained that “Israel has only two interests in Gaza: the security and the return of civilians and Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas. The development of Gaza is conditioned by these two requirements.