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Are Israel And Iran Heading For War?

The Israeli strikes could well start yet another war in the region

People look over damage to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13 in Tehran
People look over damage to buildings following Israeli airstrikes on June 13 in Tehran Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
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In a dramatic though not unexpected  escalation with far-reaching consequences, Israel has launched a direct attack on Iranian sites including its nuclear facilities, a move long sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The strike,  targeted key installations, including Iranian scientists,  and military leaders, including Brig. Gen Mohammad Bagheri, the commander of the army as well as  Hossein Salami, the head of Iran바카라™s Revolutionary Guards commander. The attacks risks plunging an already volatile region into deeper instability and prospect of a wider war. As Iran prepares for retaliation the cost of fulfilling Netanyahu바카라™s long-held ambition may prove steep바카라”for Israel, Iran, and the entire region. Iran has already launched a massive drone attack on Israel. The IDF is engaged at the moment in shooting these down. Where will this stop is the question.

"We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme. We targeted Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz. We targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile programme," Prime Minister Netanyahu declared in a television address after the strikes.

IAEA Report Provided the Fig Leaf to Israel

Israel seized the opportunity afforded by the Vienna based nuclear watchdog, the  International Atomic Energy Agency바카라™s board of governors report earlier this week saying  that Tehran had failed to comply with non-proliferation obligations.

Following this Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran바카라™s atomic energy issued orders to 바카라œ바카라Š..establish a new enrichment center in a secure location,바카라™바카라™ the state controlled Iranian Fars news outlet reported on Thursday. 바카라œAdvanced IR-6 centrifuges will replace the older first-generation centrifuges at the Shahid Dr. Alimohammadi (Fordow) site바카라ŠFurther measures are being planned and will be announced in due course, according to the atomic agency and the foreign ministry,바카라 the report said.   

The world including Sunni Arabi leaders of the Gulf region had earlier joined hands with Israel to ensure that Iran does not go nuclear.  Like Israel, the Sunni sheikdoms saw Shia dominated Iran as a threat. In fact the outreach to Israel in the first place by UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries was to thwart Tehran바카라™s nuclear ambition. However today ties between the Gulf states and Iran have improved dramatically.  

Netanyahu has cleverly played on these fears and projected Iran as a threat to Israel바카라™s very existence. The Prime Minister said that Friday morning attacks was aimed at rolling back Iran바카라™s threat to Israel바카라™s survival.

Iran바카라™s Response

Iran바카라™s Supreme leader Ayatollah  Ali Khamenei, has no choice but  respond to the devastating strikes. Iran having being under sanctions for several decades is in no position to get into a full scale war with Israel, more so because Russia a close allay is engaged in Ukraine. 

바카라œA crime was committed in our dear country, and the aggressors revealed their wicked nature by striking residential areas,바카라 Khamenei  said in a televised address to the nation, 바카라œThey should now await a harsh punishment.바카라 The drone attack  followed hours later. A spokesman for the country바카라™s armed forces said Israel and the United States would 바카라œreceive a forceful slap.바카라 The strikes and counter strikes will have a devastating effect on Iran바카라™s already fragile economy.

US Response

The US, Israel바카라™s close allay claims that it has no hand in the Israeli strikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said . 바카라œIsrael advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense,바카라 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, warning Iran to not attack American 바카라œinterests or personnel.바카라

Iran and the US have been holding talks and is scheduled to hold another meeting  on Sunday. President Donald Trump had said Thursday that Iran and US were close to a nuclear deal, but warned 바카라œIran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful,바카라 Trump told reporters at the White House. 바카라œWe바카라™ll trade with them, we바카라™ll do whatever is necessary."

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