Israel Preparing Military Option to Prevent Iran's Acquisition of Nuclear Bomb - Gantz

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Tel Aviv is making preparations for a military option to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz told US officials during talks in Washington, the radio station Galei Tzahal reported Saturday, citing a top Israeli defence official.

The same source told reporters that Iran is about to produce enough uranium to create a nuclear bomb, but "is not going to cross the line, understanding the significance [of this step]".

In August, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom expressed concern about data provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency stating that Iran had produced uranium metal enriched to 20% for the first time and increased production capacity of uranium enriched to 60%.

In November, Iran said that it produced 210 kilograms (463 pounds) of uranium enriched to 20% and at least 25 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, and Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi noted that only nuclear countries can demonstrate such production capacities.

In 2015, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and Iran concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was designed to lift US sanctions from Iran in exchange for limiting Tehran's nuclear programme. In 2018, the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reimposed tough sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran announced a phased reduction in its obligations under the agreement, abandoning restrictions on nuclear research, centrifuges, and the level of uranium enrichment.

The seventh round of talks on restoration of the JCPOA began on November 29th, with a US-initiated break for consultations on December 3rd. The main topic of the negotiations is lifting US sanctions from Iran.