Operation in Iran not aimed at toppling regime, Israeli official tells Al Arabiya English
Israel's strikes on Iran are aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities, not toppling supreme leader Ali Khamenei's regime, an Israeli official told Al Arabiya English on Wednesday.
'Our operation in Iran isn't aimed at toppling the regime but to remove Iran's threat to destroy Israel,' the official said.
Claiming that Iran has produced enough nuclear material to build nine nuclear bombs, the Israeli official said that Israel's only targets are nuclear facilities in Iran and sites pertaining to the ballistic missile program.
The official added that Iran plans to manufacture 10,000 ballistic missiles in the future.
'We will continue our precision attacks against nuclear facilities and ballistic missiles,' the Israeli official said, adding that the operation in Iran will not exceed the time required to achieve the objectives.
Israel began launching an unprecedented wave of strikes across Iran on Friday, saying it aims to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon — a charge Iran denies.
The Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people in Iran and wounded more than 1,000, according to an official toll released Sunday.
In retaliation, Iran has carried out attacks that have killed at least 24 people in Israel since Friday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
28 minutes ago
- Arab News
Israel to resume natural gas exports when military deems it's safe, energy minister says
TEL AVIV: Israel will resume its natural gas exports when the country's military believes it would be safe to do so, Israel's Energy Minister Eli Cohen said on Wednesday, as an air battle between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day. Two of Israel's three gas fields — Chevron-operated Leviathan and Energean's Karish — off its Mediterranean coast that provide the bulk of exports to Egypt and Jordan, have been shut since June 13 amid the conflict between Israel and Iran. That leaves in operation only the older Tamar field, used mainly for domestic supplies. Cohen said he has been in contact with Egypt and Jordan about the cut in supplies. 'They can see that we are in a war. I don't want to use our strategic storage, so therefore, I needed to cut exports,' Cohen told Reuters after a news briefing. 'I hope I will be able to use another rig as soon as possible and use it for the supply of gas (exports). For me, the most important thing is (supplying) Israel,' he said, alluding to fueling needs during the conflict with Iran. It wasn't clear when another gas field will be reopened, Cohen said, noting: 'We are working with them [the military], the Navy, and right now their recommendation is that one (field) will continue to work and two will be shut down.' Israeli gas accounts for about 15-20 percent of Egypt's consumption, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) shows. The disruption to Israel's gas supply led Egyptian fertilizer producers to halt operations on Friday. Israel launched the air war on Iran on Friday after concluding the latter was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes. OTHER ENERGY SOURCES Israel's energy sector, Cohen said, was operating normally, with no shortages expected since the country also maintains reserves in coal, diesel and renewable energy. Israel's Oil Refineries in Haifa was hit by an Iranian missile this week, which killed three people and halted operations. Cohen said he hoped the facility would resume operations within a month, though a second refinery in the south remains open. Since Friday, the percentage of renewable, or solar, energy used in electricity production has more than doubled to some 40 percent, Cohen said. There was also some damage to wastewater treatment facilities and pipelines from Iranian air strikes. Cohen acknowledged that victory against Iran could take weeks but Israel's energy demands could be met. 'Although the Iranians struck some of our plants, we have very strong energy facilities that can supply all the energy demands for Israeli citizens and the army, in fuel, gas, electricity and water.'
Arab News
28 minutes ago
- Arab News
Pakistan has had no new military cooperation with Iran since Israeli strikes began, defense minister Asif tells Arab News
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Islamabad had not engaged in any new military cooperation with Tehran since Israel launched attacks on Iran last week and had not held specific talks with the US over the escalating crisis in the Middle East. Iran, which borders Pakistan, has hit back with strikes against Israel after it unleashed waves of attacks on Friday at Iranian nuclear installations, missile stockpiles, scientists and military commanders, among other targets, sparking global alarm that the conflict could erupt into a regional war. The latest escalation follows months of hostilities between Israel and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, which intensified after the war in Gaza was launched late in 2023. Regional powers fear a direct confrontation could spiral into a broader conflict involving major oil shipping lanes and global energy supplies. For Pakistan, a close Iranian neighbor and a longtime opponent of Israel, a prolonged conflict risks disrupting border security, inflaming sectarian tensions at home and possibly putting it in a tight spot with Arab allies and the West. Speaking to Arab News, Asif said regular security cooperation was continuing with Iran along their shared border to combat militant groups, but no fresh operational coordination had been initiated in response to Israel's attacks on Iranian territory since June 13. 'I don't see any need for it,' the defense minister said in response to a question on whether Pakistan's military was coordinating with its Iranian counterparts on the border or engaging in any fresh defense cooperation. 'We coordinate on a very regular basis as far as the Iran and Pakistan border is concerned because of terrorist activities … that sort of cooperation is already on. So I don't see any new activity.' Asked if Pakistan had held talks with Washington to discuss the fast-evolving situation, the minister said there had been no contact specifically on the crisis in the past five days. 'But we are in constant touch with the United States of America regarding the tense situation we have in this region.' Asif said Pakistan's leadership was instead focused on engagement with close partners like China and Muslim countries to press for calm, warning that the conflict risked engulfing the entire region. 'The countries who have religious affinity with us or geographical affinity, even China or other countries, because what we are pursuing is peace,' he said. 'And we would like to mobilize the countries of this region. This conflict can multiply and it can engulf the whole region into a situation which could be very, very disastrous.' Diplomatic and security experts warn that the Israel-Iran hostilities could affect Pakistan by destabilizing its western border with Iran, threatening energy imports as oil prices surge and creating new pressures on Pakistan's relations with the US and Gulf partners if Islamabad is seen as tilting too far toward Tehran. On the other hand, if Tehran were to fall or be severely weakened, analysts say Pakistan would likely side with the US and its allies — despite being Iran's immediate neighbor — to protect its strategic and economic interests. Addressing concerns over past remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that have drawn parallels between Iran and Pakistan as so-called militant Islamic regimes that needed to be deterred, Asif rejected any immediate threat to Pakistan from Tel Aviv, but stressed Islamabad would remain vigilant. 'If we are threatened by Israel, which I will discount at the moment … what happens in the coming months or years I can't predict, but at the moment I discount (a threat from Israel),' he said. He described Israel as a state with 'hegemonic intent' whose recent actions in Gaza and against Iran were 'extremely dangerous to the immediate region,' and said global public opinion was turning against Israeli policies despite support or muted reactions from many Western governments. Asif declined to comment on reports that Pakistan had scrambled fighter jets near its nuclear sites and the Iranian border in response to Israel's initial strikes on Iran but insisted that its nuclear security remained robust. In addition to the Middle East tensions, Pakistan faced a major military standoff with India last month in which the two sides exchanged missile, drone and artillery attacks. Islamabad claimed to have shot down six Indian jets and struck back at military positions, triggering fears of a wider conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals before a ceasefire was announced by the Trump administration on May 10. When questioned about any direct threat to Pakistan's national security or strategic assets as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, Asif said Pakistan's armed forces were already on high alert following the latest confrontation with New Delhi, describing the country's nuclear facilities as 'very militantly guarded, very grudgingly guarded' and fully compliant with international safeguards. 'Since our short war with India, we have been on alert so we have not lowered guards … We can never take the risk of any attack on our nuclear facility from anywhere, that is something which is a lifeline as far as our defense is concerned,' he said. Asif said Pakistan's performance in the recent fight with India was evidence of his country's defense capability and national resolve, which would deter Israel from any adventurism. 'We have just had a bout with India and we clearly established our superiority, the superiority of our armed forces, air force, Pakistan army, Pakistan navy and the determination of our people, the way the nation stood behind the armed forces,' he said. 'So I think Netanyahu or his people or his government will think many times before taking on Pakistan.'
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Iranian Ambassador in Tokyo hails Saudi and Arab support
TOKYO: Iranian Ambassador to Japan, Peiman Seadat, expressed his gratitude for the unified support of Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Muslim countries in their collective effort against the aggression of the Israeli war machine. He stated that this unity among Arab and Muslim nations is a testament to the strength of regional cooperation. In an exclusive interview with Arab News Japan on Wednesday, the Ambassador highlighted that Arab and Muslim countries recognize the seriousness of the aggression by the Israeli regime and the threat it poses to the entire region. Ambassador Seadat recognized the substantial support from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Farhan. 'We are deeply grateful for the compassionate assistance provided by the Crown Prince to approximately 80,000 Iranian pilgrims who have been stranded in Saudi Arabia. His Highness personally assured us that these pilgrims are being welcomed as guests of the Kingdom. We will always remember the kindness shown to us by our brothers in Saudi Arabia.' The Iranian Ambassador, Seadat, also highlighted the support to Iran by Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, among others. He also expressed gratitude to the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, for his clear condemnation of Israel's aggressive actions against Iran.
