Scoop: Israel destroyed active nuclear weapons research facility in Iran, officials say

[ILAN RAMON]

Axios
Axios

4 hours ago -World

Scoop: Israel destroyed active nuclear weapons research facility in Iran, officials say​

• Barak Ravid

A Maxar closeup satellite imagery of the Parchin Military Complex in Iran from Nov. 2022. Photo: Satellite image (c) 2022 Maxar Technologies.
The Israeli attack on Iran in late October destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility in Parchin, according to three U.S. officials, one current Israeli official and one former Israeli official.
Why it matters: The strike — which targeted a site previously reported to be inactive — significantly damaged Iran's effort over the past year to resume nuclear weapons research, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

• One former Israeli official briefed on the strike said it destroyed sophisticated equipment used to design the plastic explosives that surround uranium in a nuclear device and are needed to detonate it.
• Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement last week that "Iran is not after nuclear weapons, period."
• The Iranian mission to the UN declined to comment for this story.
• The incoming Trump administration will include several key national security and foreign policy officials who are hawkish on Iran, which could lead to increased U.S. pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Driving the news: One of the targets of the Israeli strike on Oct. 25 was the Taleghan 2 facility in the Parchin military complex, about 20 miles southeast of Tehran.

• The facility was part of the Iranian Amad nuclear weapons program until Iran halted its military nuclear program in 2003. It was used for testing explosives needed to set off a nuclear device, according to the Institute for Science and International Security.
• High-resolution satellite imagery acquired by the institute after the Israeli strike showed the Taleghan 2 building was completely destroyed.

Behind the scenes: Israeli and U.S. officials said the activity that took place recently at the Taleghan 2 facility was part of an effort inside the Iranian government to conduct research that could be used for the development of nuclear weapons but could also be presented as research for civilian purposes.

• "They conducted scientific activity that could lay the ground for the production of a nuclear weapon. It was a top secret thing. A small part of the Iranian government knew about this, but most of the Iranian government didn't," a U.S. official said.
• Israeli and U.S. intelligence began detecting research activity at Parchin earlier this year, including Iranian scientists conducting computer modeling, metallurgy and explosive research that could be used for nuclear weapons.

Flashback: Last June, the White House officials privately warned the Iranians in direct conversations about the suspicious research activities, Axios reported.

• The U.S. hoped the warning would make the Iranians stop their nuclear activity, but they continued, the officials said.

A U.S. official said that in the months before the Israeli attack "there was concern across the board" about the Iranian activity at the Taleghan 2 facility.

• The Iranian nuclear weapons research even led the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to change its assessment about the Iranian nuclear program.

• The Wall Street Journal reported in August that a DNI report to Congress didn't include a sentence that had appeared in intelligence assessments in recent years, which said Iran "is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities necessary to produce a testable nuclear device."

Between the lines: When Israel prepared its retaliation for Iran's massive Oct. 1 missile attack, the Taleghan 2 facility was chosen as a target.

• President Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities in order not to trigger a war with Iran, U.S. officials said.
• But Taleghan 2 was not part of Iran's declared nuclear program so the Iranians wouldn't be able to acknowledge the significance of the attack without admitting they violated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
• "The strike was a not so subtle message that the Israelis have significant insight into the Iranian system even when it comes to things that were kept top secret and known to a very small group of people in the Iranian government," a U.S. official said.

What to watch: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors will meet next week and is expected to vote on a censure resolution against Iran for its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Iran has said it could respond by limiting its cooperation with the IAEA.

• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Iran on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the board meeting.
• Araghchi told Grossi that Iran is willing to negotiate with the E3 — France, Germany and the UK — "on its peaceful nuclear program ... but not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidatio

 

[Rutechula]

Axios
Axios

4 hours ago -World

Scoop: Israel destroyed active nuclear weapons research facility in Iran, officials say​

• Barak Ravid

A Maxar closeup satellite imagery of the Parchin Military Complex in Iran from Nov. 2022. Photo: Satellite image (c) 2022 Maxar Technologies.
The Israeli attack on Iran in late October destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility in Parchin, according to three U.S. officials, one current Israeli official and one former Israeli official.
Why it matters: The strike — which targeted a site previously reported to be inactive — significantly damaged Iran's effort over the past year to resume nuclear weapons research, Israeli and U.S. officials said.

• One former Israeli official briefed on the strike said it destroyed sophisticated equipment used to design the plastic explosives that surround uranium in a nuclear device and are needed to detonate it.
• Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement last week that "Iran is not after nuclear weapons, period."
• The Iranian mission to the UN declined to comment for this story.
• The incoming Trump administration will include several key national security and foreign policy officials who are hawkish on Iran, which could lead to increased U.S. pressure on the Islamic Republic.

Driving the news: One of the targets of the Israeli strike on Oct. 25 was the Taleghan 2 facility in the Parchin military complex, about 20 miles southeast of Tehran.

• The facility was part of the Iranian Amad nuclear weapons program until Iran halted its military nuclear program in 2003. It was used for testing explosives needed to set off a nuclear device, according to the Institute for Science and International Security.
• High-resolution satellite imagery acquired by the institute after the Israeli strike showed the Taleghan 2 building was completely destroyed.

Behind the scenes: Israeli and U.S. officials said the activity that took place recently at the Taleghan 2 facility was part of an effort inside the Iranian government to conduct research that could be used for the development of nuclear weapons but could also be presented as research for civilian purposes.

• "They conducted scientific activity that could lay the ground for the production of a nuclear weapon. It was a top secret thing. A small part of the Iranian government knew about this, but most of the Iranian government didn't," a U.S. official said.
• Israeli and U.S. intelligence began detecting research activity at Parchin earlier this year, including Iranian scientists conducting computer modeling, metallurgy and explosive research that could be used for nuclear weapons.

Flashback: Last June, the White House officials privately warned the Iranians in direct conversations about the suspicious research activities, Axios reported.

• The U.S. hoped the warning would make the Iranians stop their nuclear activity, but they continued, the officials said.

A U.S. official said that in the months before the Israeli attack "there was concern across the board" about the Iranian activity at the Taleghan 2 facility.

• The Iranian nuclear weapons research even led the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to change its assessment about the Iranian nuclear program.

• The Wall Street Journal reported in August that a DNI report to Congress didn't include a sentence that had appeared in intelligence assessments in recent years, which said Iran "is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities necessary to produce a testable nuclear device."

Between the lines: When Israel prepared its retaliation for Iran's massive Oct. 1 missile attack, the Taleghan 2 facility was chosen as a target.

• President Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities in order not to trigger a war with Iran, U.S. officials said.
• But Taleghan 2 was not part of Iran's declared nuclear program so the Iranians wouldn't be able to acknowledge the significance of the attack without admitting they violated the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
• "The strike was a not so subtle message that the Israelis have significant insight into the Iranian system even when it comes to things that were kept top secret and known to a very small group of people in the Iranian government," a U.S. official said.

What to watch: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors will meet next week and is expected to vote on a censure resolution against Iran for its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Iran has said it could respond by limiting its cooperation with the IAEA.

• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Iran on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of the board meeting.
• Araghchi told Grossi that Iran is willing to negotiate with the E3 — France, Germany and the UK — "on its peaceful nuclear program ... but not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidatio

Siyo wa kuamini sana maana Sadam Hussein alikuwa victim kwa sababu ya mass destruction weapons za uongo!!!!

 

[Percival]

Hizi huwa tunaita ndoto za Kimweri.
Hakuna kitu wazayuni walifanya au kufanikiwa kwenye Hilo shambulio feki.
Iran air defence iliwatimua Bado wako anga za Iraq
Long live Iran revolution

 

[FUSO]

Mbona walituambia mashambulio yote ya Islael hayakuwa na madhara yoyote yale..
Ila Iran wana roho ngumu..

 

[Lambardi]

Mbona walituambia mashambulio yote ya Islael hayakuwa na madhara yoyote yale..
Ila Iran wana roho ngumu..

Propaganda muhimubsana Israel sio wajinga walisema.....Iran akirudi kushambukia badi kweli yeye ni mbishi .....wameua facikities zake zooteer muhimuuuu

 

[FUSO]

Propaganda muhimubsana Israel sio wajinga walisema.....Iran akirudi kushambukia badi kweli yeye ni mbishi .....wameua facikities zake zooteer muhimuuuu

Naanza kuamni US walivyosema majuzi kwamba kusudio la Islael pale Gaza limekamilika kwamba HAMAS hawatakuwa na uwezo tena wa kuishambukia Islael siku za usoni.

 

[Lambardi]

Naanza kuamni US walivyosema majuzi kwamba kusudio la Islael pale Gaza limekamilika kwamba HAMAS hawatakuwa na uwezo tena wa kuishambukia Islael siku za usoni.

Leo Iran anasema yuko tayari kuongea kuhusu neuclear facikities na research zoote zifungwe....unaelewa hapoo?

 

[Benjamini Netanyahu]

Mbona walituambia mashambulio yote ya Islael hayakuwa na madhara yoyote yale..
Ila Iran wana roho ngumu..

Wanajifariji lakini wanapigwa haswa

 

[ILAN RAMON]

Siyo wa kuamini sana maana Sadam Hussein alikuwa victim kwa sababu ya mass destruction weapons za uongo!!!!

Saddam alikuwa dictator katili alieua wakurdi 8000 kwa sumu kule Halabja

 

[ILAN RAMON]

Hizi huwa tunaita ndoto za Kimweri.
Hakuna kitu wazayuni walifanya au kufanikiwa kwenye Hilo shambulio feki.
Iran air defence iliwatimua Bado wako anga za Iraq
Long live Iran revolution

Nakukumbusha tena kuhusu shambulio na Osirak nuclear facility kule Iraq 🇮🇶 1981 kaangalia wazayuni walichofanya
Pia tafuta operation thunderbolt entebe 1976 uone wazayuni walivyookoa mateka uganda
Pia angalia Operation Orchard wazayuni walivoteketeza nuclear facility ya Syria 🇸🇾 kule Deir alzour 2007
Alaf kaa kahawa chungu umeze Israel 🇮🇱 sio level ya mvaa pedo/kobazi yeyote

 

[Khanji kapoor]

Mayahud tuhurumieni na sie ni watu

Siku ya kiyama mtachomeka inshallah

 

[ILAN RAMON]

Hahahh

Leo Iran anasema yuko tayari kuongea kuhusu neuclear facikities na research zoote zifungwe....unaelewa hapoo?

Kipigo walichopewa iran sio nyepesi mkuu

 

[ILAN RAMON]

Mayahud tuhurumieni na sie ni watu

Siku ya kiyama mtachomeka inshallah

Tena sinawar na Nasrallah ni kuni Motoni

 

[Bulelaa]

Ifike mahali hata kobazi wa Tandika na kule rangi tatu wakubali kwamba, wayahudi siyo wa mchezo mchezo

Baada ya shambulizi la pili la Iran kwa Israel, Iran walitoa onyo kali sana kwamba, Israel akijaribu kulipiza shambulio lao, wao watalipa papo kwa papo tena kwa nguvu kubwa na ya hatari zaidi

Lakini tokae Israel afanye shambulizi lake kwa Iran, Irani amekuwa mpole ka mtoto

Kiashiria hiki itoshe kusema, kile alichokuwa anategemea kuipiga Israel, kimedhofishwa kiasi cha yeye Iran kukosa hamu ya kulipiza kisasi

Na ndiyo maana tumeanza kuona Iran akitaka maridhiano ya vikwazo dhidi ya Mitambo ya kurutubisha Nuclear

 

[Lambardi]

Hahahh

Kipigo walichopewa iran sio nyepesi mkuu

Wengi hawajui....wameua facilities nyingi za maana Jeshi Iran....kuna neno moja zito sana Israel ali describe ile shambulizi....precisely and stategic kitu kama hiki

 

[pilipili kichaa]

Kipigo kilikuwa kikali hata Iran ilikubali kiaina kuwa walipigwa "kumoyo"
Nawahakikishia Iran kujibu mapigo sio rahisi kabisa kwani anajua kingine kitafuata! 🤣 🤣

 

[Kosugi]

Hiyo satellite image hiyo hiyo BBC waliichambua na kusema HAITOSHI KUONESHA MADHARA YA SHAMBULIO.
😂😂😂😂Israel hakuna kitu propaganda kibaaaooo kumpambisha ila shambulio lilifeli.
Kila siku mnaleta habari za uongo mara ilipigwa kiwanda Cha drone mara nuclear facility.
Aisee uzuri duniani hamuwezi mdanganya mtu watu wanajielewa aisee.
Hii sio 1967 ni 2024.

Pia kuhusu Iran kukubali mazungumzo ya IAEA ni kwasababu alipewa wito hivyo hajaukataa.
Ni vizuri kukubali ili kuipa mwanya mzuri Iran wa kidiplomasia.
Maana Iran imeshaonekana taifa kaidi mara nyingi.
Ila msijidanganye kuwa Iran itaacha michakato ya nuclear,maana ina nuke sites zaidi ya 5.
Endeleeni kujifariji ila kipigo kipo pale pale .Na huyo anayejidanganya kuwa Hamas haitaweza kuishambulia siku zijazo pole yake.
Juzi tu Hamas wamerusha maroketi Israel.

 

[zithromax]

Hiyo satellite image hiyo hiyo BBC waliichambua na kusema HAITOSHI KUONESHA MADHARA YA SHAMBULIO.
😂😂😂😂Israel hakuna kitu propaganda kibaaaooo kumpambisha ila shambulio lilifeli.
Kila siku mnaleta habari za uongo mara ilipigwa kiwanda Cha drone mara nuclear facility.
Aisee uzuri duniani hamuwezi mdanganya mtu watu wanajielewa aisee.
Hii sio 1967 ni 2024.

Pia kuhusu Iran kukubali mazungumzo ya IAEA ni kwasababu alipewa wito hivyo hajaukataa.
Ni vizuri kukubali ili kuipa mwanya mzuri Iran wa kidiplomasia.
Maana Iran imeshaonekana taifa kaidi mara nyingi.
Ila msijidanganye kuwa Iran itaacha michakato ya nuclear,maana ina nuke sites zaidi ya 5.
Endeleeni kujifariji ila kipigo kipo pale pale .Na huyo anayejidanganya kuwa Hamas haitaweza kuishambulia siku zijazo pole yake.
Juzi tu Hamas wamerusha maroketi Israel.

Kwanza hamna haja ya kuwajibu pili hiyo picha sio ya Iran 🇮🇷 wameamua kuokoteza ili kujastify ujinga wao Kama ile ya waziri wao anaangalia TV moto ukiwa unawaka .kwa ufupi hili shambulio limeitia sana aibu na nsio maana kiongizi wa upinzani akasema huo sio uwezo wao walihitaji kikubwa zaid