Iran makes unimpeded progress in nuclear weapons development, and its threats to Israel intensifies

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. agency in charge of nuclear control, warned Monday that Iran's nuclear program has advanced unchecked over the past few years.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director of the IAEA, maintained that for three and a half years, Tehran has not been complying with its commitments stipulated in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear agreement reached by Iran and major world powers.

Grossi noted that Tehran has increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium metals, not only to 20% purity, but also to 60%, which is one step away from reaching the level of 90% enriched uranium needed to produce nuclear weaponry.

The IAEA director also maintained that there has been no progress in resolving outstanding safeguarding issues, thus responding to Iran's false claims that it has declared all its activities, its materials and its nuclear locations. Therefore, Grossi urged Iran to comply with its commitments under the agreement.

In addition, the European Union (E.U.) accused Iran of providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia in amidst its invasion of Ukraine, claiming it has received credible information from allied nations, reported Radio Free Europe.

Peter Stano, an E.U. spokesman, warned that the alliance will respond swiftly if Tehran is found to have provided these weapons to Moscow. He added that it could implement significant new restrictive measures against Iran.

Iran escalates its threat against Israel

As the IAEA tries to prevent the Iranian regime from producing nuclear weaponry, Tehran has intensified its threats against Israel, warning that it will carry out a forceful and extensive offensive in response to the elimination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the political bureau of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, who was killed in late July in an attack blamed on Israel in the Iranian capital, Emirati media outlet Al-Arabiya reported Monday.

Hossein Salami, supreme commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps., stated that "the nightmare of the inevitable Iranian response shakes Israel day and night." The military officer further maintained that Israel's leaders are in a state of imbalance and tension because Iran's attack will be "painful and different from what they expected."

Although the Iranian regime stated that the offensive will be precise and calculated, it did not mention when and how it will be executed.

However, U.S. sources indicated that Tehran may delay the attack to allow international intermediaries, such as Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to continue to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. President Joe Biden also suggested that reaching a truce in Gaza could result in a delay of the Iranian offensive, although it is unclear under what conditions, as it could result in a strengthening of the Hamas terrorist group.

It should be noted that recently the Palestinian terrorist group rejected a proposal for a ceasefire agreement presented by the United States which, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had been accepted by Israel.

U.S. sources further stated that Washington warned Tehran about launching a massive missile attack against Israel, pointing out the potential consequences for Iran of such an offensive and about the possible increase in tensions in the region that a large-scale attack would produce.