JNS
The Islamic Republic is "developing, testing and deploying" long-range ballistic missiles that it could utilize for a widespread attack on the Jewish state, said Moshe Edri.
Iran continues to deceive the international community about the scope and aims of its nuclear activities, Israel Atomic Energy Commission director general Moshe Edri told attendees at the annual meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday.
"There is no doubt that Iran conducted a military nuclear program aimed to produce several nuclear-weapon devices. Iran continues to advance this program by gaining relevant technology and knowledge, along with fissile material in alarming amounts," Edri said in a speech.
The Israeli official noted that despite repeated resolutions by the IAEA's board of governors in recent months, Tehran has "continuously failed to provide technically credible explanations regarding these activities, and continues to deceive the Agency and the international community."
The possibility of a nuclear-armed Islamic Republic is "not an option that Israel, or the world, can, or should tolerate," he stated, noting that Iran continues to "develop, test and deploy" long-range ballistic missiles that it could utilize for a widespread nuclear attack on the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, the Syrian regime has "followed the footsteps of its close ally," pretending to cooperate with the IAEA, "while not admitting the full facts and not providing true answers" regarding its clandestine reactor in the Deir Al-Zour region of eastern Syria, according to Israel.
The international community should "stand behind the IAEA" as it seeks to receive "clear, full explanations" on this from Damascus "once and for all," Edri stated, echoing similar remarks made at the summit in 2022.
In his comments on Tuesday to the conference, Edri also noted the attacks launched on Israel by Iran and its regional terror proxies over the past months, some of which, he said, have "openly targeted" nuclear facilities.
The national task of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission "is to guarantee the safety and security of our nuclear facilities that are openly targeted by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran—even more so since Oct. 7," Edri said, in reference to the Hamas-led cross-border massacre of more than 1,200 people in the northwestern Negev.
"Israel continues to demonstrate its responsible behavior in this regard and continues to take all necessary precautions to ensure that these facilities are operated according to the highest international safety and security standards to withstand these threats as required," he added.
Iran has continued to ramp up enrichment in recent months, while arguing that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful. Tehran's stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium has increased by at least 20.6 kilograms (45.5 pounds) since February, AFP reported on May 27, citing an IAEA report.
The confidential document, which was also seen by the Associated Press, revealed that Tehran had accumulated 142.1 kilograms (313.2 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. This level of enrichment is just a technical step from 90% enrichment, considered weapons grade.
According to the IAEA definition, it is technically possible to create an atomic bomb with roughly 42 kilograms (92.5 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% if the material is further enriched to 90%.
Iran has recently threatened a push towards the weapon of mass destruction. On May 9, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran would weaponize its nuclear program if Israel "threatens its existence."
Also in May, a lawmaker close to the Iranian regime suggested that the regime might already possess an atomic bomb, saying: "In my opinion, we have achieved nuclear weapons, but we do not announce it."
An expansion underway at the Fordow enrichment plant could allow Iran to accumulate several bombs' worth of nuclear fuel every month, The Washington Post reported in June, citing confidential documents.
While Tehran has restricted the IAEA's ability to monitor its nuclear program, inspectors witnessed technicians installing advanced IR-6 centrifuges, per a confidential file shared with the agency's members.
