Iran nuclear sites on high alert amid attack fears - Telegraph

Iran-made defence system Azarakhsh unveiled, February 18, 2024.
Iran-made defence system Azarakhsh unveiled, February 18, 2024.

Iran has placed its nuclear sites on high alert, deploying additional defenses amid escalating fears of a joint Israeli-US attack, The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Citing two unnamed government sources, the outlet said the Islamic Republic has also been bolstering defenses around key nuclear and missile sites, which include the deployment of additional air defense system launchers.

According to the sources, the measures are in response to growing concerns of potential joint military action by Israel and the United States.

“They [Iranian authorities] are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night and everything has been on high alert – even in sites that no one knows about,” one source said.

“Work to fortify nuclear sites has been ongoing for years but it has intensified over the past year, particularly since Israel launched the first attack,” he added referring to Israel’s October attack that damaged Iran's air defense systems.

“Recent developments, including Donald Trump’s comments and reports about potential plans from his administration to strike Iran, have further intensified activities.”

The report follows warnings from US intelligence to both the Biden and Trump administrations that Israel would likely target key Iranian nuclear sites this year.

In February, the Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post cited US intelligence findings from January suggesting that Israel saw an opening for an attack on Iranian nuclear sites as early as the first half of this year.