“No time for conventional weapons” – Lieberman calls for nuclear strike against Iran

From the Palestine Chronicle editorial board

Israeli Knesset member and chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party, Avigdor Lieberman, has called for the use of non-conventional weapons, including nuclear weapons, against Iran.

In an interview on Israel’s Channel 12 on Wednesday, Lieberman called for Israel to abandon its policy of ambiguity about its unconventional capabilities.

When asked by the broadcaster to repeat his statement, he reiterated: “We have no time for conventional weapons.”

Recently, Lieberman criticized the current Israeli government for its poor war management and said Israel had no choice but to confront Iran directly.

Meanwhile, Kamal Kharrazi, chairman of the Strategic Council for Iranian Foreign Relations, warned that Israel’s declaration of war on Hezbollah in Lebanon could escalate into a larger conflict.

Russia: Israel’s statements on nuclear option raise “numerous questions”

He stressed that Iran would fully support Hezbollah if Israel were to launch a full-scale war, and suggested that such an escalation could involve other countries, including Iran.

On April 13, Iran launched a retaliatory attack on Israel, the so-called Operation True Promise.

Tehran fired dozens of missiles and drones at Israel from its territory in retaliation for Israel’s bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the killing of several military leaders in an earlier Israeli airstrike on April 1.

Nuclear weapons policy

According to estimates by the Arms Control Association, Israel has “90 nuclear warheads and stockpiles of fissile material for about 200 weapons.”

Tel Aviv has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, but “it is widely believed to store nuclear weapons in a partially dismantled state, although exactly how many is unclear.”

Iran itself does not have a nuclear weapons policy. However, after the April 2024 attack, Iranian politicians indicated that the country could reconsider its nuclear doctrine if security conditions change or its nuclear facilities are attacked.

“Doomsday weapons” – Israeli official speaks of extreme measures in light of regional escalation

In 2022, the First Committee of the UN General Assembly decided that “Israel” must destroy all its nuclear weapons and place its nuclear facilities under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Four countries – Canada, Micronesia, Palau and the United States – as well as Israel opposed the resolution on the “risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.” 24 countries abstained, including members of the European Union.

(PC, AJA)