The Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, delivered a speech while awarding the ranks of Major General to Nimrod Aloni, who will assume the position of Commander of the Depth Command and Commander of the Military Colleges, and to David Zini, who will be appointed Commander of the Training and Command in the Land divisions and Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff operations division.
Among other things, Defense Minister Gallant referred to the latest developments in the Iranian nuclear issue and said: "The dangers facing the State of Israel are increasing and we may be required to fulfill our duty in order to protect the integrity of Israel and especially the future of the Jewish people. The tasks are heavy and the challenges are great. The reality in which we find ourselves is complex, but the State of Israel, the IDF, and all the security agencies will know what to do to ensure Israel's security in the present and in the future, with the help of you, the current and joining members of the General Staff."
The U.S. and #Israel are both responding to dangerous new escalations from #Iran, this week, in the form of a new ballistic #missile and reports on the construction of a potentially bomb-proof underground #nuclear facility. https://t.co/EfCANimRrp
— Jerusalem Dateline (@JlemDateline) June 2, 2023
As a reminder, the defense minister's words come against the backdrop of a new report published this week by the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran, which claims that the agency has no more questions about uranium particles found enriched to the level of 83.7% in its underground facility in Pardo. The IAEA added that it has finished its investigation into the facility previously exposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu: Israel will do everything necessary to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weaponshttps://t.co/zkypsbWiTB
— Real life-A MAN! NOT a he/she/her/it/and/or (@SAfricanInst) June 2, 2023
According to the report, Iran increased the level of enriched uranium by 25% to 60% and continues to violate the restrictions imposed on its nuclear activities as part of the nuclear agreement signed in 2015, from which the US under the Trump administration withdrew. The report states that the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran is estimated at about 114.1 kg to different levels of up to 60%. An amount of 42 kg of enriched uranium at a level of 60% is enough for a nuclear bomb if it continues to be enriched for military purposes.
Israel: IAEA accepted Iran's lies over nuclear site | World Israel News https://t.co/S9hWlEx6hb
— seetruestone (@seetruestone) June 2, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also harshly responded to the IAEA report and delivered a warning to Iran: "I have a clear message to Iran and the international community, Israel will do everything it needs to do to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons." In the meantime, it seems the Biden administration is heading towards striking a nuclear agreement with Iran, despite Israel’s firm resistance.
