Israel and the nuclear program of Iran

File:Israel Radio Persian.JPG to Iran, reflects and broadcasts the Israeli government's political propaganda against "nuclear Iran" in Persian.]]

{{main|Iran–Israel war#13 June}}

Influential and high-ranking people in the Israel Defense Forces and Mossad, Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) and Shin Bet (internal security) organizations, as well as among senior politicians and Israeli media, favor or oppose Israel's "pre-emptive attack" on "Iran's nuclear facilities" and each of these two groups have their own arguments and analysis.

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

Proponents of the "preemptive attack" on Iran's nuclear facilities evaluate the negotiations of the 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 Western economic sanctions on 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 uranium enrichment and making ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

{{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

|date = 12 August 2012

|trans-title = وزیر اسرائیل از ملت‌ها خواست که بگویند مذاکرات ایران شکست خورده است

|language = en

|access-date = 4 November 2024

|last1 = Rudoren

|first1 = Jodi

}}

On the other hand, the opponents of the Israeli "preemptive attack" believe that the daily life of the Israeli people will face serious and formidable risks by going to a "risky war".

{{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

}}

File:F-15E gbu-28 release.jpg F-15 Eagle fighter capable of firing a GBU-28 laser-guided missile to destroying underground bunkers.]]

The Israeli Air Force has purchased from the United States of America various weaponry, including 125 advanced F-15L and F-16L military aircraft, a number of advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighters, and 55 GBU-28

{{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

}}

laser-guided missiles. Israeli Air Force fighters are equipped with automatic devices and additional fuel tanks, and are suitable for long-range attacks.

{{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

}}

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 of a third country."

{{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

}}

{{More citations needed section|date=June 2025}}

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 Israeli army. The classified documents was about how Israel attacked Iran. According to this alleged plan, Israel had prepared for a 1-month war. According to Richard Sullivan, military operations would have been "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."

{{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

}}

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 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.

{{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

}}

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."

{{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

}}

Iran has anti-aircraft defense to counter the attacks of hostile fighters, and 29 mobile Tor-M1 and S-300 systems made by Russia.

{{cite web

|url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4052952

|title = Iran Gets Lethal Russian Missile System

|website = 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

}}

Iran's senior military officials have announced that in case of an attack on Iran, the entire territory of Israel and the military bases of the United States of America in the Middle East region will be targeted by Iranian missiles.

{{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

}}

Iran has the capabilities to strike Israel with Shahab-3, Sejjil 2, Ghadr-110, Haj Qasem and Khorramshahr ballistic missiles.

{{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

}}

{{cite web

|url = https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/iran/

|title = Missiles of Iran

|trans-title = موشک‌های ایران

|language = en

|access-date = 4 November 2024

}}

According to a report by the London based International Institute for Strategic Studies, 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.

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

{{main|Assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists}}

The Iranian government has accused Israel of assassinating several Iranian nuclear scientists, including Ardeshir Hosseinpour, Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, Majid Shahriari, Fereydoon Abbasi and Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan.

{{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

}}

Several European sources have also supported this claim.

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

Following the assassination of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, the spokesman of the Israeli army said, "We do not shed tears for this murder."

{{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

}}

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.

{{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

}}

Richard Engel published on NBC that "Iranian officials initially accused the Israelis and MEK of being behind the attacks, but they have since added the CIA to the list." In 2012, IRNA reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran) sent a letter to the U.S. saying they had "evidence and reliable information" that the CIA had provided support and guidance to those responsible for the attack. Israel, the MEK, and the U.S. have dismissed these claims as false.

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

In 2012, the Iranian government accused Majid Jamali Fashi of being "an Israeli agent" involved in the killing of nuclear scientist Masoud Ali-Mohammadi. Fashi, who was 24 years old at the time, was hanged at Evin prison the same year.

{{cite web

|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/15/iran-hangs-man-nuclear-scientist

|title = Iran hangs man accused of killing nuclear scientist

|work = The Guardian

|date = 15 May 2012

|language = en

}}

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.

{{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

}}

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.

{{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

|date = 28 November 2020

|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

|last1 = Kirkpatrick

|first1 = David D.

|last2 = Bergman

|first2 = Ronen

|last3 = Fassihi

|first3 = Farnaz

}}

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

Israeli prime minister Netanyahu said in a video message after the assassination of 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."

{{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

}}

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".

{{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

}}

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 execution for the crime of "spying for Mossad and commanding the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi". Fashi was executed in Evin prison.

{{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

}}

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.

In August 2012, IRIB TV1, the Islamic Republic of Iran's TV channel 1, aired a special program called "Assassination Club". It televised the forced confessions of some of those accused of involvement in the murder of people related to Iran's nuclear program, and in which Israel was referred to as the "headquarters of the assassination of nuclear scientists."

{{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

}}

• On January 12, 2010, Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, a physics professor at Tehran University, was killed by the explosion of a magnetic bomb.

{{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

}}

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

{{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

}}

• On July 23, 2011, Dariush Rezaeinejad, an expert at the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, was shot dead in Tehran.

In retaliation to the assassination of scientists involved in its nuclear program, the government of Iran is suspected of planning and executing a series of retaliatory attacks on February 13, 2012, in Hindustan, Thailand, and Georgia against Israel's diplomatic affiliates.

{{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

|date = 12 January 2012

|trans-title = ایران از قتل دانشمند انتقام می‌گیرد

|language = en

|access-date = 4 November 2024

|last1 = Gladstone

|first1 = Rick

}}

{{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

}}

Iran has also been accused by the Israeli authorities of trying to bomb Israel's interests in Kenya and Cyprus.

{{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

}}

Interpol ordered the arrest of several Iranian citizens who were suspected of participating in these retaliatory operations.

{{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

}}

On July 18, 2012, a suicide attack on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in eastern Bulgaria resulted in the death of 5 Israeli citizens.

{{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

}}

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". The Iranian government has denied these accusations.

{{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

}}

On January 16, 2011, the New York Times wrote in an 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.

{{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

|date = 15 January 2011

|trans-title = آزمایش اسراییل روی کرم کامپیوتری برای به تأخیر انداختن برنامه هسته‌ای ایران حیاتی است

|language = en

|access-date = 4 November 2024

|last1 = Broad

|first1 = William J.

|last2 = Markoff

|first2 = John

|last3 = Sanger

|first3 = David E.

}}

On June 20, 2012, the Washington Post newspaper wrote in an investigative article that the Flame malware, which had a very complex structure

{{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

}}

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 US Central Intelligence Agency, the US National Security Agency and the Israel Defense Forces.

{{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

}}

Kaspersky Lab has evaluated the date of the beginning of the malware attacks known as "Flame" from August 2010.

{{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

}}

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 Uranium Enrichment Plant on August 17, 2012, and added that "power outage is one of the ways to damage centrifuge machines".

{{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

}}

{{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

}}

On October 30, 2013, 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."

{{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

}}

{{see also|List of attacks during the Iran–Israel war#Nuclear facilities |l1=Attacks against nuclear facilities during the Iran–Israel war}}

At the start of the Iran–Israel war (Operation Rising Lion) on June 13, 2025, Israel launched large-scale attacks against nuclear infrastructure in several areas inside Iran.{{Cite web |title=Netanyahu Says Operation 'Rising Lion' Will Last 'as Many Days as It Takes' |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-iran-strike-conflict/card/netanyahu-says-rising-lion-operation-will-last-as-many-days-as-it-takes--awFq7ykuEj4Mq9D4i0gw |website=The Wall Street Journal}}{{Cite web |date=13 June 2025 |title=Israel launches Operation Rising Lion to target Iran's nuclear threat |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857577 |website=The Jerusalem Post}} Explosions were reported at the Natanz Nuclear Facility, in Iran's Isfahan province, where one of the country's most critical nuclear facilities is located.{{Cite web |title=Explosions heard in Natanz, home to key nuclear site, says Iranian state television |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/explosions-heard-in-natanz-home-to-key-nuclear-site-says-iranian-state-television/ |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US}} Nuclear sites at Khondab and Khorramabad were also attacked.{{Cite web |date=13 June 2025 |title=Live - Israel attacks Iran, Revolutionary Guards chief killed |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202506127881#202506138621 |access-date=13 June 2025 |website=Iran International |language=en}}

{{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
• Iran-Israel non-political relations

{{Div col end}}

{{reflist}}

{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict|state=collapsed}}

Category:Nuclear program of Iran

Category:Iran–Israel relations