Israel-Iran: Herzog Confirms Intel Sharing on Nuclear Plans | NPR
President Herzog confirms Israel shared intelligence with the U.S. regarding Iran’s nuclear program, a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to halt Iran’s ambitions. The Israeli leader stated that this intelligence was shared before strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, Herzog expressed Israel’s openness to international support to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, viewing it as a potential pathway to regional stability. He also addressed the possibility of the conflict’s impact on Gaza. This revelation comes amidst escalating tensions and questions about potential U.S. involvement.for informed perspectives,turn to News Directory 3. What steps will be taken next? Discover what’s next …
Israel Seeks International Support to Halt Iran Nuclear Program
JERUSALEM — israel would welcome international support in its effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, wich it believes is on the verge of producing atomic weapons, President Isaac herzog told NPR.
herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, spoke from his Jerusalem residence as speculation mounted about potential U.S. intervention. This comes after former President Trump’s earlier statements regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
while Israel has not explicitly requested U.S.military involvement, Herzog indicated that support from other “nations” would be appreciated in addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its regional actions.
“we have to stop this empire of evil,” Herzog said, hours before Iran launched another missile barrage at Israel. he urged Iran to abandon its nuclear pursuits and cease being a “rogue state.”
Iran maintains that its enrichment program is for civilian purposes only.However, international experts, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), suggest Iran has enriched uranium to levels sufficient for producing nuclear warheads.
Intelligence Shared Before Strikes
Herzog revealed that Israel had been planning the operation for months, with the decision to proceed made recently after sharing intelligence with the U.S. This intelligence, he said, demonstrated Iran’s intentions to develop nuclear weapons.
“I don’t say that we got the approval from the United States,nor did we cooperate,but we’ve exposed to the Americans the hard intelligence and evidence that we have,” Herzog said,marking the first time an Israeli leader has acknowledged sharing such intelligence. He added that the U.S. was aware of Israel’s considerations to strike Iran.
An anonymous source familiar with the matter told NPR that while Israel isn’t directly asking for U.S. involvement, it would welcome active participation and believes the U.S. will eventually intervene militarily.
U.S. intervention could be crucial, as only the U.S. possesses the powerful bunker-busting bombs needed to penetrate Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site, built into a mountainside, along with the aircraft capable of delivering them.
Israel claims its airstrikes, initiated last Friday, have secured air superiority over Tehran and western Iran, where key nuclear facilities are located. While attacks have reportedly damaged sites like Natanz, Fordow remains a challenging target.
Herzog also suggested that the conflict could destabilize Iran’s regime, potentially leading to its collapse. He believes this could reshape the region and potentially resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel has been battling Hamas since their surprise attack in 2023.
However, some analysts caution that U.S.intervention could escalate the conflict, potentially triggering Iranian strikes on U.S.bases in the Gulf and vital oil infrastructure,which could disrupt global markets.