View source for Israel and the nuclear program of Iran

{{Short description|The opinion of the Israeli government regarding Iran's nuclear program}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
[[File:Natanz nuclear.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Iran's [[Air defence|air defense]] near [[Natanz Nuclear Facility|Natanz nuclear facilities]]]]
The government of [[Israel]] believes that if the [[Government of Iran|Islamic Republic of Iran]] achieves the development of [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear weapons]], the existence of Israel will be in serious danger and this regime will be the first target of a possible nuclear attack by [[Iran]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2010/11/20101128782722551.html
|title       = Nuclear dilemma: Israel vs. Iran
|trans-title = معضل هسته‌ای: اسرائیل در مقابل ایران
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], the [[List of prime ministers of Israel|prime minister of Israel]], who is mentioned as one of the supporters<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/06/netanyahu-iran-nuclear-weapons-israel
|title       = Netanyahu on Iran: 'None of us can afford to wait much longer'
|newspaper = The Guardian
|date = 6 March 2012
|trans-title = نتانیاهو درباره ایران: هیچ یک از ما نمی‌توانیم بیشتر از این صبر کنیم
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = McGreal
|first1 = Chris
}}
</ref> of Israel's "preemptive strike" on Iran's nuclear facilities, has repeatedly emphasized in official speeches that "all the risks are small and insignificant compared to the risk of Iran's nuclearization."<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.radiofarda.com/content/f4_israel_media_reports_war_against_iran/24674402.html
|title       = گزارش رسانه‌های اسرائیلی از شنیده شدن «صدای پای جنگ» علیه ایران
|newspaper = رادیو فردا
|date = 12 August 2012
|trans-title = Israeli media report that the "sound of war" was heard against Iran
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = اسرائیل
|first1 = فرنوش رام-
}}
</ref> The Iranian government has repeatedly emphasized that [[Nuclear program of Iran|the country's nuclear program]] is for peaceful purposes such as energy production and medical issues, and is not seeking to build nuclear weapons.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/09/120923_u10_ahmadinejad_interview.shtml
|title       = احمدی‌نژاد: تندروی سبب زایش بیشتر تندروها می‌شود
|trans-title = Ahmadinejad: Extremism causes the birth of more extremists
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
Also, during the threats of an Israeli attack, the Iranian government emphasizes that it will give a "heavy response"<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/08/120802_l20_kf_israel_iran.shtml
|title       = رئیس پیشین موساد: «خطر حمله اسرائیل به ایران جدی است»
|date = 2 August 2012
|trans-title = Former head of Mossad: "The danger of Israel's attack on Iran is serious"
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> to the "scenario of an Israeli attack" on Iran, and [[Ali Khamenei]], the leader of the Iranian government and [[Commander-in-chief|commander-in-chief]], has also said that "anyone whoever in the thinks of invading the Islamic Republic of Iran, should prepare himself to receive strong slaps and steel fists from the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Army|army]], [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|IRGC]] and [[Basij]]."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2011/11/111110_l10_khamenei_warns_against_attack.shtml
|title       = رهبر ایران به آمریکا و اسرائیل در مورد حمله احتمالی هشدار داد
|date = 10 November 2011
|trans-title = The leader of Iran warned America and Israel about a possible attack
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Supporters and opponents of the preemptive strikes in Israel ==
[[File:Israel Radio Persian.JPG|thumb|250px|right|The Voice of Israel, broadcast from [[Jerusalem]] to [[Iran]], reflects and broadcasts the Israeli government's political [[propaganda]] against "nuclear Iran" in [[Persian language|Persian]].]]
Influential and high-ranking people in [[Israel Defense Forces|Israel's army]] and [[Mossad|intelligence]], [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|military]] and [[Shin Bet|security]] organizations, as well as among senior politicians and Israeli media, are in favor or against that Israel's "preemptive attack" on "Iran's nuclear facilities" and each of these two groups have their own arguments and analysis.<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/apr/29/israel-citizens-dont-want-war-iran
|title       = Most Israeli citizens don't want a war with Iran
|newspaper = The Guardian
|date = 29 April 2012
|trans-title = اکثر شهروندان اسرائیلی خواهان جنگ با ایران نیستند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = Hasan
|first1 = Mehdi
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-obama-divided-on-price-of-israeli-strike-against-iran-1.416909
|title       = Netanyahu, Obama divided on price of Israeli strike against Iran
|trans-title = نتانیاهو و اوباما بر سر قیمت حمله اسرائیل به ایران اختلاف نظر دارند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
Proponents of the "preemptive attack" on [[Nuclear facilities in Iran|Iran's nuclear facilities]] evaluate the negotiations of the [[P5+1|5+1 group]] to reach a diplomatic agreement on this country's nuclear program as "failed" and "useless" and as the "waste of time" policy of the Iranian government. This proponents considers the negative impact of [[International sanctions against Iran|Western economic sanctions]] on [[Economy of Iran|Iran's economy]] insufficient to solve the nuclear crisis and they believes that Iran's nuclear program has progressed significantly during this period. They believe that the Iranian government is reaching an irreversible point in the cycle of [[Enriched uranium|uranium enrichment]] and making [[Ballistic missile|missiles]] capable of carrying nuclear [[Warhead|warheads]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/world/middleeast/time-to-call-diplomatic-effort-on-iran-a-failure-israeli-official-says.html?ref=world
|title       = Israeli Minister Asks Nations to Say Iran Talks Have Failed
|website = [[The New York Times]]
|trans-title = وزیر اسرائیل از ملت‌ها خواست که بگویند مذاکرات ایران شکست خورده است
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
On the other hand, the opponents of the Israeli "preemptive attack" believe that the daily life of the [[Israelis|Israeli people]] will face serious and formidable risks by going to a "risky war".<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.radiofarda.com/content/f8-israelis-demonstrated-outside-of-barak-house-against-iran-attack/24674730.html
|title       = تظاهرات اسرائیلی‌ها علیه جنگ با ایران
|newspaper = رادیو فردا
|date = 13 August 2012
|trans-title = Demonstrations of Israelis against the war with Iran
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Possible attack methods of Israel ==
[[File:F-15E gbu-28 release.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A [[United States Armed Forces|US Army]] [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]] fighter capable of firing a [[GBU-28]] laser-guided missile to destroying underground bunkers.]]
The [[Israeli Air Force]] has purchased 125 advanced [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15L]] and [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16L]] military aircraft, a number of advanced fifth-generation [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35]] fighters, and 55 [[GBU-28]]<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = http://www.radiofarda.com/content/f3_whu_usa_sold_bombs_to_israel/24342185.html
|title       = چرا آمریکا بمب‌های سنگرشکن به اسرائیل فروخت؟
|newspaper = رادیو فردا
|date = 28 September 2011
|trans-title = Why did America sell mortar bombs to Israel?
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> laser-guided missiles capable of destroying [[Bunker buster|bunker buster]] from the [[United States of America]]. Israeli Air Force fighters are equipped with automatic devices and additional fuel tanks and are suitable for long-range attacks.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/02/120228_l10_jm_israel_iran_attack.shtml
|title       = حمله احتمالی اسرائیل به ایران چگونه خواهد بود؟
|date = 28 February 2012
|trans-title = How will Israel's possible attack on Iran be?
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
=== Possible routes for Israel's "preemptive strike" ===
According to the analysis of the Israeli newspaper [[Yedioth Ahronoth]], there are four routes for the [[Israeli Air Force]] fighters to reach Iran: "The southern route over [[Saudi Arabia]], the northern route over [[Syria]] and [[Turkey]], the central route over [[Jordan]] and [[Iraq]] and a longer route over the [[Red Sea]] that does not require entering the [[Airspace|airspace]] of a third country."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/rolling_news/2012/08/120809_l03_rln_saudi_iran_israel.shtml
|title       = هشدار عربستان به اسرائیل در مورد مسیر حمله به ایران
|date = 9 August 2012
|trans-title = Saudi Arabia warns Israel about the path of attack on Iran
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
=== Alleged plan to attack Iran ===
On August 15, 2012, American journalist Richard Sullivan claimed that he had obtained classified documents through an Israeli politician connected to a high-ranking anti-war officer in the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli army]]. The classified documents was about how Israel attacked Iran. According to this alleged plan, Israel has prepared for a 1-month war. According to Richard Sullivan, "military operations will be carried out with a series of extensive cyber attacks against Iran's infrastructure. After that, ballistic missiles will be hit Iran's nuclear facilities, command centers and military facilities, research and development centers related to the Atomic Energy Organization and the homes of senior figures related to Iran's nuclear program and missile development. In the final phase, manned fighters will be used to destroy the remaining targets that have not been completely destroyed by ballistic missiles."<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19274866
|title       = Israel 'prepared for 30-day war with Iran'
|work = BBC News
|date = 15 August 2012
|trans-title = اسرائیل برای جنگ ۳۰ روزه با ایران آماده شد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
=== Human casualties ===
A study has been conducted at the [[University of Utah]] and the Omid Institute about the casualties of a possible Israeli attack on Iran, which says that in the event of an attack on [[Nuclear program of Iran|Iran's nuclear centers]] (in [[Isfahan]], [[Arak]], [[Natanz]] and [[Bushehr]]), between five thousand to eighty thousand people may be killed. According to the author of this research, Khosrow Semnani, an expert in the industrial management of nuclear waste, the talk of this possible war has always been raised in the political and economic environment, but nothing has been said about the people of Iran who pay the main cost of these events.<ref name=rf>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.radiofarda.com/a/o2_iran_nuclear_ayatollah/24716832.html
|title       = «قمار هسته‌ای آيت الله»؛ تحقيقی درباره تلفات احتمالی حمله به ايران
|newspaper = رادیو فردا
|date = 22 September 2012
|trans-title = "Ayatollah's nuclear gamble"; An investigation about the possible casualties of the attack on Iran
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = اسفندياری
|first1 = گلناز
}}
</ref>
According to this report, between 3,000 and 10,000 people will be killed immediately, and in addition, many people will be exposed to nuclear radiation and the death toll will be much higher. This attack may kill or injure between seventy thousand to three hundred thousand peoples only in [[Isfahan]]. Also, this research shows that Iran is not ready to help citizens who are exposed to nuclear radiation and "it will be a disaster on the scale of [[Bhopal]] and [[Chernobyl disaster|Chernobyl]]."<ref name=rf/><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://ir.voanews.com/a/the-potential-death-toll-of-attacking-iran/1517749.html
|title       = تلفات احتمالی حمله به سایت‌های هسته‌ای ایران
|date = 30 September 2012
|trans-title = Possible casualties of an attack on Iran's nuclear sites
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Possible reaction of Iran's air defense ==
Iran has [[Air defence|anti-aircraft defense]] to counter the attacks of hostile fighters, and it has 29 mobile [[Tor missile system|Tor-M1]] and [[S-300 missile system|S-300]] systems made by [[Russia]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4052952
|title       = Iran Gets Lethal Russian Missile System
|website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081104132026/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4052952
|trans-title = ایران به سامانه موشکی کشنده روسیه دست یافت
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|archive-date = 2008-11-04
}}
</ref>
Iran's senior military officials have announced that in case of an attack on Iran, the entire territory of [[Israel]] and [[List of American military installations|the military bases of the United States of America]] in the [[Middle East]] region will be targeted by Iranian missiles.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/08/120814_l31_kf_israel_iran_mosad.shtml
|title       = رئیس پیشین موساد: شمشیر ایران هنوز به گلوی ما نرسیده
|trans-title = Former head of Mossad: Iran's sword has not reached our throat yet
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
Iran can strike Israel using [[Shahab-3]], [[Sejjil|Sejjil 2]], [[Ghadr-110]], [[Haj Qasem (missile)|Haj Qasem]] and [[Khorramshahr (missile)|Khorramshahr]] [[Ballistic missile|ballistic missiles]], which are capable of reaching that country.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-unveils-new-missiles-improving-its-reach-at-sea-and-to-israel-11597942374
|title       = Iran Unveils New Missiles, Improving Its Reach at Sea and to Israel
|trans-title = ایران از موشک‌های جدیدی رونمایی می‌کند که دسترسی خود به دریا و اسرائیل را بهبود می‌بخشد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/iran/
|title       = Missiles of Iran
|trans-title = موشک‌های ایران
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
According to the report of the [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]], which is based in [[London]], Iran's ability to directly counterattack Israel is limited, and according to information obtained from public sources, until 2012, Iran had approximately six [[Shahab-3]] and [[Ghadr-110]] missile launchers. Also, Iran had twelve to eighteen devices suitable for [[Shahab-1]] and [[Shahab-2]] missiles, which according to the report of this institute, this number is probably increasing.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/world/2012/03/120307_l41_world_iran_israel_attack_respond.shtml
|title       = ایران چگونه به حملهٔ احتمالی اسرائیل پاسخ خواهد داد
|date = 7 March 2012
|trans-title = How will Iran respond to a possible Israeli attack?
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = http://military.ddns.net/Docs/Irans_Ballistic_missile_Capabilities_A_Net_assessment.pdf
|title       = Irans Ballistic Missile Capabilities - A Net assessment
|trans-title = توانمندی‌های موشکی بالستیک ایران - ارزیابی خالص
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Assassination of scientists related to the nuclear program of Iran ==
{{main|Assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists}}
Israel has been accused by the Iranian government of assassinating several Iranian nuclear scientists such as [[Ardeshir Hosseinpour]], [[Massoud Ali-Mohammadi]], [[Majid Shahriari]], [[Fereydoon Abbasi]] and [[Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.jahannews.com/analysis/424092/%D9%86%D9%82%D8%B4-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C
|title       = نقش موساد در ترور دانشمندان هسته‌ای
|date = 23 May 2015
|trans-title = Mossad's role in the assassination of nuclear scientists
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> Several European sources have confirmed the involvement of the [[Mossad]] in these assassinations.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/29/iran-irgc-assassinations-israel-targeted-killing-nuclear/
|title       = Why Does Israel Keep Assassinating Iranian Officials? Because It Works.
|trans-title = چرا اسرائیل به ترور مقامات ایرانی ادامه می‌دهد؟ چون کار می‌کند.
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-60250816
|title       = Israel's Mossad suspected of high-level Iran penetration
|date = 6 February 2022
|trans-title = موساد اسرائیل مظنون به نفوذ در بالاترین سطح ایران است
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> For example, the English-language newspaper [[The Independent|Independent]] in an article entitled "The world's deadliest assassins" named Mossad as "Israel's ruthless killing machine" and enumerated the assassinations and said that "the signature of the Israeli secret service can be seen in all of these assassinations."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.independent.ie/life/the-worlds-deadliest-assassins/26605405.html
|title       = The world's deadliest assassins
|date = 11 December 2010
|trans-title = مرگبارترین قاتلان جهان
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
Following the assassination of [[Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan]], the spokesman of the Israeli army said, "We do not shed tears for this murder." According to the [[The Jerusalem Post|Jerusalem Post]], the commander of the Israeli army said the day before this assassination, 2012 will be a critical year for Iran and abnormal events will happen to this country.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/11/world/asia/iran-scientist-killed
|title       = Report: Iran nuclear scientist killed in car bomb blast
|website = [[CNN]]
|date = 11 January 2012
|trans-title = گزارش: دانشمند هسته‌ای ایران در انفجار خودروی بمب گذاری شده کشته شد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
[[Der Spiegel|Spiegel magazine]], citing an Israeli intelligence official, announced the assassination of [[Dariush Rezaeinejad]] as the first serious action of the new head of the Mossad, [[Tamir Pardo]].<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/sabotaging-iran-s-nuclear-program-mossad-behind-tehran-assassinations-says-source-a-777899.html
|title       = Mossad Behind Tehran Assassinations, Says Source
|newspaper = Der Spiegel
|date = 2 August 2011
|trans-title = یک منبع می‌گوید موساد پشت ترورهای تهران است
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = Putz
|first1 = Ulrike
}}
</ref>
The [[NBC]] channel mentioned the assassination of 4 nuclear scientists since 2007 and quoted an American official, without revealing his identity, and wrote that the attacks against those involved in Iran's nuclear program were carried out by members of the [[People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran]] with the financial, training and weapons support of the Israeli intelligence service. The mentioned American official told NBC that the American government is aware of the terror operation, but has no role in it.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-teams-terror-group-kill-irans-nuclear-scientists-u-s-flna241673
|title       = Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News
|website = [[NBC News]]
|date = 9 February 2012
|trans-title = مقامات آمریکایی به ان‌بی‌سی نیوز گفتند که اسرائیل با گروه‌های تروریستی برای کشتن دانشمندان هسته‌ای ایران همکاری می‌کند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/rolling_news/2012/02/120209_l10_nbc_iran_nuclear_assassinations.shtml
|title       = ان‌بی‌سی از قول مقام آمریکایی: ترورها کار مجاهدین و موساد است
|date = 9 February 2012
|trans-title = NBC, according to the American official: the assassinations are the work of Mojahedin and Mossad
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
Following the broadcast of Majid Jamali Fashi's confession on Iranian TV, [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]] wrote: "[[Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|Iran's Ministry of Intelligence]] has destroyed a team equipped and trained by the Mossad. Western intelligence officials have confirmed that the details of Majid Jamali Fashi's confession about the January 2010 motorcycle assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist [[Massoud Ali-Mohammadi]] were correct. Western intelligence officials have declared a third country responsible for leaking this team."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.haaretz.com/2012-03-31/ty-article/report-israels-mossad-scales-back-covert-operations-in-iran/0000017f-e65b-d62c-a1ff-fe7bae000000
|title       = Report: Israel's Mossad Scales Back Covert Operations in Iran
|trans-title = گزارش: موساد اسرائیل از شدت عملیات مخفیانه در ایران کم می‌کند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
[[Ronen Bergman]] writes in the book "[[Rise and Kill First]]" that after [[Ariel Sharon]] appointed [[Meir Dagan]] as the head of Mossad, made him responsible for disrupting Iran's nuclear program. Because from the point of view of both of them, Iran's nuclear program was considered a threat against Israel. Dagan used different methods to accomplish this task. According to Dagan, the most difficult and of course the most efficient method was to identify key scientists in Iran's missile and nuclear industry and then kill them. Mossad identified fifteen of these people and eliminated six of them. Most of the elimination operations were carried out in the morning when they were on their way to work by means of quick-explosive bombs that were attached to their cars by a motorcycle rider. These operations and many others initiated by the Mossad and sometimes carried out with the cooperation of the United States were all successful.<ref name=>
{{cite book
|url         = https://books.google.com/books?id=3UXKDQAAQBAJ&q=appointed+Sharon+Dagan+missile+nuclear
|title       = Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations
|isbn = 978-0-679-60468-6
|trans-title = برخیز و اول تو بکش: تاریخ مخفی ترورهای هدفمند اسرائیل
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
|last1 = Bergman
|first1 = Ronen
|date = 30 January 2018
|publisher = Random House Publishing
}}
</ref>
Israel has also been accused of assassinating [[Mohsen Fakhrizadeh]]. A senior Israeli official, who has been tracking Mohsen Fakhrizadeh for years, announced in an interview with the [[New York Times]] a few days after Fakhrizadeh's assassination, says that the world should thank Israel for killing Fakhrizadeh. Israeli Energy Minister [[Yuval Steinitz]] announced after the operation that Fakhrizadeh's assassination is positive for the world.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/28/world/middleeast/iran-assassinations-nuclear-israel.html
|title       = Brazen Killings Expose Iran's Vulnerabilities as It Struggles to Respond
|website = [[The New York Times]]
|trans-title = کشتارهای وقیحانه، آسیب پذیری‌های ایران را در حالی که تلاش می کند پاسخگو باشد، آشکار می‌کند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2020-11-29/ty-article/senior-israeli-official-to-nyt-world-should-thank-us-for-killing-of-iranian-nuclear/0000017f-f4fb-d887-a7ff-fcffa9d70000
|title       = World Should Thank Us for Killing Iran's Top Nuclear Scientist, Senior Israeli Official Tells NYT
|trans-title = یک مقام ارشد اسرائیلی به نیویورک تایمز گفت: جهان باید از ما برای کشتن دانشمند برتر هسته‌ای ایران تشکر کند.
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55128970
|title       = Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: Iran scientist 'killed by remote-controlled weapon'
|date = 30 November 2020
|trans-title = محسن فخری‌زاده: دانشمند ایرانی با سلاح کنترل از راه دور کشته شد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/1/past-and-present-israels-targeting-of-irans-nuclear-aspiration
|title       = Past and present: Israel's targeting of Iran nuclear aspirations
|trans-title = گذشته و حال: هدف قرار دادن اسرائیل از آرمان‌های هسته‌ای ایران
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu|Netanyahu]] said in a video message after the assassination of [[Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)|Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics]] official [[Mohsen Fakhrizadeh]]: "During the last week, I did some things that I don't want to tell you about. This is for you, the citizens of Israel, for our country, this week was an achievement, and there will be more."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.timesofisrael.com/world-should-thank-israel-for-hit-on-iran-nuke-chief-israeli-official-tells-nyt/
|title       = World should thank Israel for hit on Iran nuke chief, Israeli official tells NYT
|website = [[The Times of Israel]]
|trans-title = یک مقام اسرائیلی به نیویورک تایمز گفت: جهان باید از اسرائیل برای ضربه زدن به رئیس هسته‌ای ایران تشکر کند
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
=== Iran's reaction ===
[[Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] has claimed that after the first wave of assassinations of nuclear scientists, the agents of this ministry "monitored the intelligence and operational bases of Israel and identified and arrested some Israeli intelligence officers and mercenary terrorists".<ref name=r38>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/06/120614_ka_intelligence_.shtml
|title       = وزارت اطلاعات ایران: عوامل ترور سه «دانشمند هسته‌ای» را دستگیر کردیم
|date = 14 June 2012
|trans-title = Iran's Ministry of Intelligence: We have arrested the agents of the assassination of three "nuclear scientists"
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
On May 15, 2012, Majid Jamali Fashi, who was tried in the [[Islamic Revolutionary Court]] in connection with the assassination of [[Massoud Ali-Mohammadi]] and sentenced to [[Capital punishment|execution]] for the crime of "spying for [[Mossad]] and commanding the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi". So, he was executed in [[Evin Prison|Evin prison]].<ref name=r39>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/05/120515_l03_jamali_fash_physicist_executed.shtml
|title       = 'قاتل فیزیکدان ایرانی' اعدام شد
|date = 15 May 2012
|trans-title = The "killer of the Iranian physicist" was executed
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
==== Television confession of the defendants to cooperate with the Israeli intelligence service ====
In January 2011, Iran's state television aired the television confession of Majid Jamali Fashi, in which he introduced himself as an agent trained by Mossad and accepted responsibility for the assassination of [[Massoud Ali-Mohammadi]].<ref name=r39/>
In August 2012, [[IRIB TV1|the Islamic Republic of Iran's TV channel 1 (IRIB TV1)]] aired a special program called "Assassination Club", televised the [[Forced confession|confessions]] of some of those accused of involvement in the murder of people related to Iran's nuclear program, in which Israel was referred to as the "headquarters of the assassination of nuclear scientists."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2012/08/120806_u02_terror_club
|title       = پخش «اعتراف‌های» متهمان به ترور دانشمندان اتمی
|date = 6 August 2012
|trans-title = Broadcasting the "confessions" of those accused of assassinating nuclear scientists
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
=== List of those killed ===
* On January 12, 2010, [[Massoud Ali-Mohammadi]], a physics professor at [[University of Tehran|Tehran University]], was killed by the explosion of a magnetic bomb.<ref name=r42>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2012/07/120722_l39_moslehi_terror_rezaeinejad
|title       = حیدر مصلحی از دستگیری ۳۰ نفر به اتهام ترور متخصصان ایرانی خبر داد
|date = 22 July 2012
|trans-title = Heydar Moslehi announced the arrest of 30 people accused of assassinating Iranian experts
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
* On November 29, 2010, [[Majid Shahriari]], professor of physics at [[Shahid Beheshti University]], was the target of an assassination attempt with a magnetic bomb and was killed.<ref name=r42/>
* On November 29, 2010, [[Fereydoon Abbasi]], a professor of physics at [[Shahid Beheshti University]] in the [[Velenjak]] area of [[Tehran]], was targeted by an assassination attempt with a magnetic bomb, but he survived.<ref name=r38/>
* On January 11, 2012, [[Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan]], the commercial vice president of [[Natanz Nuclear Facility]], was killed by a magnetic bomb explosion in [[Seyed Khandan]] area of [[Tehran]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2012/01/120112_u10_iran_nuke_scientist
|title       = پیام رهبر ایران به مناسبت ترور مصطفی احمدی روشن
|date = 13 January 2012
|trans-title = The message of the leader of Iran on the occasion of the assassination of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
* On July 23, 2011, [[Dariush Rezaeinejad]], an expert at the [[Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (Iran)|Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics]], was shot dead in Tehran.<ref name=r42/>
=== Accusation of attacking Israeli diplomats and citizens ===
In reaction<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/world/middleeast/iran-outrage-over-scientist-killing-deepens-as-it-signals-revenge.html
|title       = Iran Signals Revenge Over Killing of Scientist
|website = [[The New York Times]]
|trans-title = ایران از قتل دانشمند انتقام می‌گیرد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> to the assassination of scientists related to Iran's nuclear program, the government of that country is suspected of planning and executing a series of retaliatory attacks that took place on February 13, 2012, in [[Hindustan]], [[Thailand]], and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] against [[List of diplomatic missions of Israel|Israel's diplomatic affiliates]].<ref name=r45>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%88-%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%85/a-15739956
|title       = حمله به سفارتخانه‌های اسرائیل در هند و گرجستان؛ ایران در مظان اتهام
|website = [[Deutsche Welle]]
|trans-title = Attack on Israeli embassies in India and Georgia; Iran under suspicion
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> Also, Iran has been accused by the Israeli authorities of trying to bomb Israel's interests in [[Kenya]] and [[Cyprus]].<ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/israel-accuses-iran-of-bus-attack-in-bulgaria-a-845269.html
|title       = Israel Accuses Iran of Bus Attack in Bulgaria
|newspaper = Der Spiegel
|date = 19 July 2012
|trans-title = اسرائیل ایران را به حمله به یک اتوبوس در بلغارستان متهم کرد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
In this regard, the [[Interpol|International Police]] has ordered the arrest of several Iranian citizens who were suspected of participating in these operations.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D9%BE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A6%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%BE%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-16132430
|title       = پلیس هند پاسداران را مسئول حمله به دیپلمات‌های اسرائیلی دانست
|website = [[Deutsche Welle]]
|trans-title = The Indian police blamed the IRGC for the attack on the Israeli diplomats
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
On July 18, 2012, a [[suicide attack]] on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in eastern [[Bulgaria]] resulted in the death of 5 Israeli citizens.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.haaretz.com/2012-07-19/ty-article/names-of-israeli-victims-released/0000017f-def8-db22-a17f-fef9b0cf0000
|title       = Israel Names Five Victims of Bulgaria Terror Attack
|trans-title = اسراییل از پنج قربانی حمله تروریستی بلغارستان نام برد
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
==== Israel's reaction ====
[[List of prime ministers of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] said in response to these attacks: "Iran is the biggest exporter of terrorists in the world and the traces of this country can be seen behind these attacks".<ref name=r45/> The Iranian government has denied these accusations.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/world/2012/07/120719_l72_bulgaria_vid
|title       = بمب گذاری انتحاری بلغارستان و اتهامات اسرائیل علیه ایران
|date = 19 July 2012
|trans-title = Bulgaria's suicide bombing and Israel's accusations against Iran
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Malware and computer viruses ==
On January 16, 2011, the New York Times wrote in an [[Investigative journalism|investigative article]] that "Israel first tested the [[Stuxnet]] computer worm at the [[Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center]] and on similar centrifuges used in Iran at the [[Natanz nuclear facility]]." This is despite the fact that the government of Israel or the United States have never officially confirmed involvement in the spread of the Stuxnet virus.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/world/middleeast/16stuxnet.html?_r=1
|title       = Israeli Test on Worm Called Crucial in Iran Nuclear Delay
|website = [[The New York Times]]
|trans-title = آزمایش اسراییل روی کرم کامپیوتری برای به تأخیر انداختن برنامه هسته‌ای ایران حیاتی است
|language    = en
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
On June 20, 2012, the [[Washington Post]] newspaper wrote in an investigative article that the [[Flame (malware)|Flame malware]], which had a very complex structure<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2012/07/120717_mahdi_virus
|title       = کشف بدافزار جاسوسی جدید با نام 'مهدی'
|date = 17 July 2012
|trans-title = Discovery of a new spy malware called "Mahdi"
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> with the purpose of "spying on computer networks and obtaining information necessary to disrupt the progress of Iran's nuclear program" has been produced and used against Iran by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|US Central Intelligence Agency]], the [[National Security Agency|US National Security Agency]] and the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran/2012/06/120620_u02_washpost_flame
|title       = همکاری آمریکا و اسرائیل در تولید بدافزار فلیم
|date = 20 June 2012
|trans-title = American and Israeli cooperation in the production of Flame malware
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref> [[Kaspersky Lab]] has evaluated the date of the beginning of the malware attacks known as "Flame" from August 2010.<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/05/120523_u04_malware_iran.shtml
|title       = کشف یک حملهٔ گستردهٔ سایبری علیه ایران و اسرائیل
|date = 29 May 2012
|trans-title = Discovering a massive cyber attack against Iran and Israel
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== Accused of vandalism ==
On September 17, 2012, [[Fereydoon Abbasi]], the head of the [[Atomic Energy Organization of Iran]], announced the occurrence of a deliberate explosion in the power lines of the [[Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant]] on August 17, 2012, and added that "power outage is one of the ways to damage centrifuge machines".<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = https://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2012/09/120917_l23_abbasi_davani_furdo_explosion.shtml
|title       = ایران از انفجار یک ماه پیش کابل‌های برق در مسیر قم و کارخانه غنی‌سازی اورانیوم خبر داد
|trans-title = Iran announced the explosion of electric cables on the way to Qom and the uranium enrichment plant a month ago
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref><ref name=>
{{cite news
|url         = https://www.radiofarda.com/a/f4_uranium_enrichment_site_sabotage_fordow/24711048.html
|title       = ایران از «خرابکاری» در خطوط برق تأسیسات فردو در ماه اوت خبر داد
|newspaper = رادیو فردا
|date = 18 September 2012
|trans-title = Iran reported "vandalism" in the power lines of Fordow facilities in August
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
On October 30, 2013, [[Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|Iran's Minister of Intelligence]], [[Mahmoud Alavi]], said: "Actually, these people were thieves, not nuclear saboteurs, and they were from the village around the power plant, and they had a history of doing these things."<ref name=>
{{cite web
|url         = http://www.persian.rfi.fr/%C2%AB%D8%A2%D9%87%D9%86%E2%80%8C%D8%AF%D8%B2%D8%AF%DB%8C%C2%BB-%DA%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-20131030/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86
|title       = اختلاف مقامات ایران دربارهٔ بازداشت‌شدگان تأسیسات هسته‌ای
|date = 30 October 2013
|trans-title = The dispute between the Iranian authorities about the detainees of the nuclear facilities
|language    = fa
|access-date = 4 November 2024
}}
</ref>
== See also ==
{{Div col|colwidth=35em}}
* [[List of Iranian nuclear negotiators]]
* [[Timeline of the nuclear program of Iran]]
* [[Reactions in Iran to the Gaza War (2008-2009)]]
* [[December 2008 air strikes in the Gaza Strip]]
* [[The law countering the hostile actions of the Zionist regime against peace and security]]
* [[Down with Israel]]
* [[Israel won't exist in 25 years]]
* [[Operations attributed to Israel in Iran]]
* [[Operation Tyre]]
* [[Majid Jamali Fashi]]
* [[Embassy of Israel, Tehran]]
* [[Supreme Nuclear Committee of Iran]]
{{Div col end}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nuclear program of Iran]]
[[Category:Iran–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Zionist political violence]]