Israel’s defence secretary has warned that Iran is “close” to acquiring nuclear weapons after the hardline regime’s programme went unchecked for years.
Yoav Gallant spoke to the Daily Mail as his country braces for a retaliatory strike following the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
He also criticised Britain’s partial arms embargo, which came days after six Israeli hostages were executed, calling it a “non-positive step” at the closed-door briefing.
Iran said only a ceasefire agreement would delay its counterattack following the attack on Haniyeh in July.
But fears are growing because Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu have yet to reach a compromise.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
Pictured here is a Fateh missile being launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami said that “the nightmare of Iran’s inevitable response is haunting Israel day and night.”
Mr Gallant delivered a strong rebuke to the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv yesterday (Monday), warning Tehran: “We have the ability to hit any strategic target in Iran.”
But he warned that their capabilities could soon turn nuclear, with even more terrifying potential than the hundreds of missiles, rockets and drones they launched at Israel in April.
“Iran is behind the chaos in this region,” he said. “Iran is creating a war of attrition against Israel in order to gain time and space to acquire nuclear capabilities, and they are close to achieving that.”
‘Each of the 110 missiles they fired at Israel in April could have carried a nuclear device if they had one, and they could hit others.’
Iran is not believed to possess nuclear weapons, but the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned Monday that Tehran’s nuclear program has run unchecked for nearly four years.
The UK has warned Tehran not to attack Israel amid fears it could spark a terrifying regional war.
But last month they announced a partial arms embargo that puts Britain’s most important ally in the Middle East on a par with China.
“I don’t think it was a positive step, but we will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Gallant said. “We have excellent cooperation with the various agencies in Britain.
“I have met with current and former Secretaries of State for Defense since the beginning of the war. Secretary Healey visited us recently. We will find solutions.”
Mr. Gallant also said his troops are prepared to attack Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist group in Lebanon that has since been launching missiles at northern Israel.
He said that if a diplomatic solution to “eliminate Hezbollah’s presence on our border” fails, the only other option is “military action.”
“We are capable and our readiness is increasing day by day,” he warned. “As we seek an agreement, I have ordered the IDF to prepare for any scenario, including turning its attention to the northern zone.
“We are committed to turning around the security situation on the northern front and bringing our citizens home safely.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (second from right) are pictured at a military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 25, 2024.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads prayers with a group of Iranian armed forces commanders in Tehran
Hezbollah joined the war a day after Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, firing rockets at Israelis and evacuating around 100,000 local residents.
“Don’t forget that Hezbollah attacked Israel on October 8 without provocation,” Gallant said. “They decided to open fire when there was a ceasefire in November. Even though this is a limited war, we are dealing with this terrorist organization.
“Hezbollah is suffering significant losses as we target its operatives and assets. We have eliminated some 550 Hezbollah terrorists.
“We are not seeking war, but we have a duty to protect our citizens and our children. As the son of Holocaust survivors, for me ‘never again’ is not just a commitment, it is a work manual.”
In recent weeks, Gallant has been engaged in heated exchanges with Netanyahu over the hostages. The prime minister has refused to hand over the Philadelphia corridor — a strip of land between Egypt and Gaza that Hamas is using to rearm — in exchange for a deal on the hostages.
The Defense Minister said yesterday: ‘Israel is currently at a strategic crossroads: this is an opportunity to fulfill our moral obligation to our citizens by bringing the hostages home.
“It also creates the possibility of changing the security situation on all fronts. The international community must put pressure on Hamas to reach an agreement.”