Israel's Air Force Cannot Stop Iran's Nuclear Ambitions Says Former PM

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claims that Israel's air force lacks the necessary resources to halt Iran's nuclear program through military action amid the two nations' shadow war.

In an interview with The National Olmert said, "We can destroy their headquarters, important projects, railways, roads, and airports .. Israel can do a lot to damage Iran's infrastructure, but Israel has no means to be able to destroy the nuclear program of Iran."

Despite Israel's longstanding threats to dismantle Iran's nuclear facilities if they approached weapons-grade enrichment, Olmert dismissed the option due to the logistical challenges involved, Israel's air force lacking the capability to penetrate the fortified mountain bunkers housing Iran's nuclear sites.

Olmert pointed out that Israel's advanced F-35A stealth aircraft, with a maximum range of 2,200km, cannot reach Tehran and return without sufficient in-flight refueling tankers. Additionally, Iran's major military sites, such as the Bandar Abbas airbase, are located over 2,000km away from Israel's immediate border.

IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi stated last week that Iran continues enriching uranium beyond commercial needs, reaching 60% purity at a rate of 7 kg per month.

Enriching uranium to 60% approaches weapons-grade purity, unnecessary for civilian nuclear energy. While Iran denies nuclear weapon ambitions, no nation has enriched to this level without weaponization intent.

Tehran has long threatened to destroy Israel with clocks around Iran counting down until the day the supreme leader predicts that will be. The nuclear issue lies at the heart of the shadow war between the archenemies with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu demanding stronger action from the US and international community in the face of further enrichment.

Last year, he said: “Eight years ago, the Western powers promised that if Iran violated the nuclear deal, the sanctions would be snapped back. Well, Iran is violating the deal, but the sanctions have not been snapped back. To stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, this policy must change. Sanctions must be snapped back."