nuclear-news

Israel may attack Iran’s nuclear sites to target weapons: See map

Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY 3 Oct 24,  https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/10/03/israel-iran-nuclear-sites-map/75496660007/ Very good maps on original

Tension have spiked in the Middle East after Iran’s missile attack on Israel this week.

Fears rose that Israel’s military intends to retaliate “significantly” and swiftly after Iran fired almost 200 missiles at Israel, but the country was still weighing what form a reprisal will take, according to a person briefed on the matter, USA TODAY reported.

Israel is still speaking with the United States while it looks into a number of ways to retaliate against Iran, according to the Guardian.

Where are Iran’s nuclear facilities?

Iran has several locations in its nuclear program, according to the Bulletin. Although there has been a long-standing threat of Israeli airstrikes, only a few of the locations have been constructed underground.

Iran has accelerated and expanded its nuclear program as its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers has deteriorated over time, cutting down on the amount of time it would need to produce a nuclear bomb, should it choose to do so − though it denies such intentions, according to Reuters.

Not the first time Israel has threatened Iran’s nuclear sites

Israel launched an attack deep into Iran April 19, close to the city of Isfahan. The strike appeared to be a reprisal for an Iranian drone and missile assault on Israel a few days earlier.

Although Israel’s target for a possible new remains unknown, an Israeli official said the nation intends to respond swiftly, according to an NBC story that cited a source that was not named.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden told reporters the United States would not back Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

According to Reuters, Iran is now enriching uranium to up to 60% fissile purity, close to the 90% of weapons grade, at two sites. In theory it has enough material enriched to that level that if it is enriched further, it would have enough for almost four bombs, according to a yardstick of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. watchdog.

October 8, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized