One of the main reasons behind Israel’s decision to launch a strike in Iran was revealed Sunday evening. Analyst Yaron Avraham reported that the decision to act stemmed from identifying unusual and rapid progress by Iran in the area of the “weapon group” — a critical stage in assembling a nuclear weapon.
A Secret Track Toward the Goal
According to what can be published, intelligence received by Israeli defense officials indicated that a group of Iranian scientists was operating via a particularly covert track to realize the capabilities of the “weapon group” in a shorter timeframe than previously estimated.
Israel’s concerns grew following the discovery of a technological breakthrough, leading to the assessment that Iran’s distance from a bomb had significantly shortened. This was compounded by intelligence on Iran’s possession of 408 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% — a high level bringing the regime close to the finish line.
A Critical Leap
The industry surrounding the project also included the development of additional processes for connecting weapon components — what intelligence sources described as a critical leap forward.
The Israeli defense establishment warned that the development posed a threat to the deterrence balance, prompting the immediate decision to act — both to halt the process and to eliminate senior figures leading it. According to the report, some key figures in the project were already eliminated in the recent Israeli strike.
