TEL AVIV: Israel has once again threatened to launch attacks against Iran if Tehran attempts to rebuild its nuclear programme or develops ballistic missiles.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Israeli media that Israel would attack Iran again if the country moved toward developing nuclear weapons or rebuilding capabilities related to its nuclear programme.
Cohen said Israel would take military action even if Iran reached an agreement with the United States. According to the Israeli minister, any attempt by Tehran to develop nuclear weapons would remain a red line for Israel.
He warned that if Iran made the “mistake” of restarting its nuclear programme, Israeli forces would target it again.
The Israeli minister also claimed that Iran would already have obtained nuclear weapons if Israel had not launched military action against the country.
According to Cohen, US and Israeli strikes have pushed Iran’s nuclear programme back by between two and four years.
His remarks reflect Israel’s continuing concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its ability to develop weapons-related technology. Israel has repeatedly said that it will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Cohen’s warning also suggests that a possible diplomatic agreement between Tehran and Washington would not necessarily prevent Israel from taking military action if Israeli authorities believed Iran was rebuilding its nuclear capabilities.
The comments come amid heightened tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States and growing international concern over the possibility of further military escalation in the region.
The Israeli minister’s statement has also raised questions about the future of diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear programme. Any renewed military confrontation could have wider consequences for regional security and international energy markets.
Israel has previously carried out military operations against Iranian targets, arguing that they were necessary to prevent Tehran from advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities.
Iran, meanwhile, has consistently rejected allegations that its nuclear programme is intended to produce nuclear weapons and has maintained that its nuclear activities have peaceful purposes.
The latest Israeli warning indicates that the nuclear issue remains one of the most sensitive points in relations between the two countries.
Cohen further argued that military action had significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear programme. However, the precise extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the length of any delay remain matters of dispute and assessment.
The situation is particularly significant because Iran also possesses a substantial ballistic missile programme. Israel has repeatedly expressed concern about both Iran’s nuclear activities and its missile capabilities.
The Israeli government has maintained that it reserves the right to take military action if it believes Iran poses a direct strategic threat.
The latest comments therefore represent another warning that Israel could consider further strikes if it concludes that Iran is rebuilding capabilities considered threatening.
Any new Israeli attack on Iran could potentially trigger retaliation and lead to a broader regional conflict involving other countries and armed groups.
International diplomatic efforts are consequently expected to remain important in preventing further escalation. A sustainable agreement would need to address concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities while also reducing the possibility of renewed military confrontation.
For now, Cohen’s comments have reinforced Israel’s position that the development of nuclear weapons by Iran would be unacceptable and could lead to further military action.
The Israeli minister’s statement also makes clear that, from Israel’s perspective, even a US-Iran agreement would not necessarily remove the possibility of an Israeli response if Tehran were believed to be pursuing nuclear weapons.
Iran has yet to respond to the latest warning in the information provided.
The latest development underscores the continuing volatility of relations between Israel and Iran and the potential risks of renewed conflict in the Middle East.
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