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Israeli Expert: Iran Has Already Crossed the Nuclear Threshold

(JNS) David Isaac - Iran can produce a nuclear weapon at will, former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi announced on Sunday. IDF Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, responded: "It will take some time [to produce a weapon], but technologically speaking, they are very, very close. They've managed to enrich uranium to 60%, which is extremely close to 90% [weapons-grade]. And they have advanced centrifuges that can do that in a very short period of time." Together with its enrichment efforts, Iran is likely working on other "necessary technologies." Kuperwasser noted that Tehran has made advances with uranium metal - a key component of a nuclear weapon - tested detonators and plans to potentially deliver a nuclear warhead using one of its existing missiles, the "Shahab 3." "And those are only the things we know of," he said. While Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons, Kuperwasser said the Islamic Republic has already crossed the nuclear threshold. "This was always the difference between us [Israel] and the Americans. The U.S. said Iran should not have a nuclear weapon. We were saying that Iran should not even have the capability to produce a nuclear weapon, because once you get the ability, you might try to actually build one." Kuperwasser stressed that both Europe and the U.S. want to avoid a confrontation with Iran. "They believe that in a couple of years, maybe the regime will disappear. Of course, it's all wishful thinking....At a certain point, somebody has to tell the Iranians, 'enough is enough, you have to stop here'." Washington's refusal to take meaningful steps against Tehran is being interpreted by the Iranians as constituting "a green light to go even further," he said. "The time to do something about it is now."
2022-07-21 00:00:00
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