Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Unchanged Despite Internal Pressure, Ex-Mossad Official Says
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A former senior Mossad official, Chaim Tomer, believes Iran's nuclear program's core danger remains unchanged despite internal discussions about nuclear policy. He noted Iranian officials have for the first time suggested pursuing nuclear weapons, possibly due to U.S. pressure. Tomer agreed with former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea's assessment and supported agreements with Iran for oversight. He also blamed former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for convincing Donald Trump to exit the 2015 nuclear deal.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Mossad official Chaim Tomer believes Iran's nuclear program's fundamental danger will not change.
- Iranian officials have for the first time suggested pursuing nuclear weapons, possibly due to U.S. pressure.
- Tomer agreed with former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea's assessment of the nuclear threat.
- He stated that agreements with Iran are preferable for allowing inspections.
- Tomer claimed Benjamin Netanyahu convinced Donald Trump to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.
A former senior Mossad official, Chaim Tomer, stated that the fundamental danger posed by Iran's nuclear program will not change under the current regime, despite recent indications of internal debate regarding nuclear policy. Tomer, speaking on 103FM, referenced comments from former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea about the nuclear threat.
Tomer highlighted that Iranian officials have, for the first time, suggested a shift away from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's fatwa that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons on Islamic grounds. He attributed these statements to pressure on the Iranian regime, particularly from the United States. "This is the first time senior Iranian officials are saying that we must strive for a nuclear weapon," Tomer emphasized.
However, Tomer clarified that the critical question is not the existence of these internal factions, but rather the timing of Iran's decision to make a significant breakthrough in nuclear weapon development. He described the complex technological processes involved, such as enriching uranium to metallic form and potential ballistic missile tests, noting that some are difficult to conceal and require demonstrated capability.
Agreeing with Barnea's assessment, Tomer expressed support for agreements with Iran, citing the 2015 deal as proof that pressure can lead to signed accords. He contrasted this with a situation lacking an agreement, stating, "Between a situation with no agreement and a situation with an agreement, I am for an agreement. It allows for inspection."
Tomer also attributed former U.S. President Donald Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal to then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He claimed that Netanyahu, with the support of Israeli intelligence organizations, convinced Trump that the world needed to be freed from the agreement to enable military action against Iran.
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