2 weeks ago
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(NewsNation) — Israel launched strikes connected Iran’s atomic infrastructure aboriginal Friday morning, calling the attacks a preemptive determination to halt Tehran's atomic ambitions.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces warned that Iran is "closer than ever" to obtaining a atomic weapon, calling it an "existential threat" to the world.
Iran does not presently person a atomic weapon, but Western analysts accidental it has the cognition and infrastructure to nutrient 1 "in reasonably abbreviated order" if its leaders chose to, according to the Council connected Foreign Relations, a U.S.-based deliberation tank.
That interest has been amplified by Iran's agelong past of concealed atomic weapons research. However, arsenic precocious arsenic October, U.S. quality officials told Reuters they inactive believed Iran had decided not to physique a atomic limb aft suspending its programme successful 2003.
If Iran wanted to, analysts person said it could nutrient capable fissile worldly for a limb wrong a fewer months, portion some estimate the state could bash truthful successful conscionable a week oregon two, per CFR.
Fears astir Iran's atomic ambitions grew successful May, erstwhile the U.N. atomic watchdog said Tehran had expanded its stockpile of adjacent weapons-grade uranium. The report, seen by The Associated Press, raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is present “the lone non-nuclear-weapon authorities to nutrient specified material.”
Iran has maintained that its atomic programme is for peaceful purposes only.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, 9 countries possessed atomic weapons astatine the commencement of 2025: the U.S., Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea.
What weapons does Iran have?
Iran doesn't person atomic weapons, but it does person the largest ballistic rocket inventory successful the Middle East.
In 2022, U.S. Central Command estimated that Iran had implicit 3,000 ballistic missiles successful its arsenal, immoderate of which could scope Tel Aviv.
"Ballistic missiles instrumentality a parabolic way done the atmosphere, traveling overmuch faster than drones and cruise missiles, and are mostly harder to intercept," the Council connected Foreign Relations notes.
Iran’s longest-range missiles are reportedly susceptible of striking targets up to astir 1,240 miles away, covering each of the Middle East and parts of Europe, CFR said. Tehran besides has cruise missiles and drones.
Despite its immense arsenal, Iran has not yet tested oregon deployed a rocket susceptible of striking the United States, though it continues to make long-range missiles done its space-launch program, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
