Latest news with #HighlyEnrichedUranium
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Netanyahu's Iran strike 'golden opportunity' as Trump 'unable to control him'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu feels emboldened to act against Iran because he believes he can control Donald Trump - and he will now move to assert Israel's dominance over the Middle East Donald Trump is unable to control Israel's President Benjamin Netanyahu as he lays waste to Iran's nuclear facilities today, an expert has warned. Yesterday, Netanyahu released a video statement in which he declared the ongoing aerial assault as a way to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival". A report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency suggested that Iran is no longer abiding by its commitment to only use its uranium enrichment programme for civilian purposes. The "threat" Netanyahu refers to is the fears echoed by the IAEA that Tehran could already have enough Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) to build 10 nuclear warheads. "In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium," he said. "If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival." The attack commenced within hours of dealmaker Trump saying the talks planned for the weekend were set to continue, raising questions over Netanyahu's timing. Professor Anthony Glees, a renowned international defence and security expert, explained this is a "golden opportunity" for Netanyahu to completely destroy the Islamic Republic and assert dominance over the wider region, all under the pretense of keeping Israel safe from Iranian warheads. "Netanyahu has made it clear that he is throwing everything into the destruction of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He's accusing it of preparing to wipe out Israel with nuclear weapons (he says they could make 9 atomic bombs in a 'few months' even a 'very short time') and he won't repeat the errors of the last century when no one took the threat of Nazi extermination of the Jews seriously," he tells The Mirror. "Netanyahu realises that he has a golden opportunity now that Biden and Blinken have gone to redraw the map of the Middle East and assert Israel's total control of the entire region." "He feels he's in a position to manipulate Trump because, although it's clear neither Trump nor Rubio wanted him to strike, neither of them are able politically to control him," he added. During his video, Netanyahu likened Israel to the US state of New Jersey - which Professor Glees believes was a nod to the American audience, who he believes support him fully. Professor Glees believes its unlikely Netanyahu's plan will backfire and he won't get the dominance or security he seeks. It's also likely that the public in other Arab states will not stand for Israel decimating Iran, forcing leaders to act and form a league against Israel. He said: "My guess is that Operation Rising Lion will not sort the problem of Israel's security. Israel cannot even defeat Hamas in Gaza let alone take on a united Arab front. The Iranian counter-attack may kill many Israelis over the next hours and days."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Iraq embassy evacuation explained as Iran nuclear tensions soar with Trump's US
While Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, the West believes Tehran is close to getting its own nuclear warhead through uranium enrichment The US has evacuated its embassy in Iraq as threats of a nuclear war continue to rise. In recent days, Donald Trump has continued to trade threats with Iran as the "deal-maker" president tries to handcuff Tehran to the negotiating table over its uranium enrichment programme. Iran claims the programme is for civilian purposes and that they have no intention of creating a nuclear warhead. Countless countries use nuclear power as an energy source. The process of developing atomic energy involves enriching the concentration of uranium so it can be used as an electricity source. However, a further level of concentration, Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), would allow the state to develop a nuclear warhead. Inspectors have previously said Iran is close in on reaching that level of enrichment. Fears Iran has developed Highly Enriched Uranium The west has long feared that once Tehran has reached this milestone, it will not hesitate to use its warhead - which would have catastrophic consequences for the region and the world. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - a UN watchdog tasked with overseeing compliance to international law about nuclear power - has released a report accusing Tehran of failing to co-operate with its inspectors. One of Trump's first orders during his first presidency in 2017 was to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal, which was one of Barack Obama's key foreign policy achievements. By doing so, Trump scrapped an agreement that took two years and the efforts of seven countries to achieve. Why is the US withdrawing staff from Iraq? Iran's national and proxy forces have a track record for targeting US bases in Iraq when tensions reach boiling point in the region. Back in January 2020, following the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a US air strike, Tehran pummelled US bases across Iraq - its neighbour. This and other similar attacks are likely the reason why Washington has ordered the mass evacuation today. Us-Iran talks stall as Trump and Tehran trade blows It comes as talks between the the US and Iran - which seek to limit Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief - appear to have hit a roadblock. Though the next round is scheduled for this weekend in Oman, officials say it's unlikely the talks will go ahead. Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with military action, including the targeting of its nuclear facilities if the negotiations don't go ahead. It looks likely that the US may be withdrawing its embassy staff due to fears of retaliatory threats over potential military action. Iran's Defence Minister has hit back at Trump, threatening to pummel US bases across the region if he strikes first.
