Israel, Gulf fear Trump may lose interest in war as Iran weighs nuclear breakout
If the current war ends with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps emboldened, many worry that Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will increase efforts to pursue a nuclear weapon to deter future attacks, similar to North Korea.
TEL AVIV — Two weeks into the war with Iran, Israel and the United States are tamping down expectations about its outcome, as concerns about the fallout grow. All eyes are now on Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Some intelligence experts believe he will emerge as an instrument of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and others warn that he might opt for vengeance, including racing Iran’s capabilities to develop a nuclear weapon.
Attention is focused on the three underground nuclear sites —Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz—, where according to Western intelligence organizations, Iran has stored 440 kilograms (200 lbs) of enriched, almost military grade (60%) uranium capable of producing 11 primitive atomic bombs.
Iran not blinking
"On the one hand, the military achievements are very impressive," Eli Levita, former deputy director of the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, told the Calcalist newspaper on Thursday. "They were achieved in less time than we estimated. The cooperation between Israel and the United States is unprecedented, the likes of which has not been seen since World War II. On the other hand, the ultimate goals of the war are far from being achieved. The overthrow of the regime now seems imaginary. The Iranians are not blinking."
