“The next war is a matter of time.” Iran may launch 2,000 missiles at once at Israel policy

The New York Times quoted analysts and officials in the Middle East warning that the outbreak of a new war between Israel and Iran is only a matter of time in light of the collapse of nuclear negotiations and the absence of any international oversight of the Iranian nuclear program.

A report by the newspaper revealed the escalation of military preparations by both sides. It quoted the director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, Ali Faez, as saying: “Iranian missile factories are working 24 hours a day,” noting that Iranian officials told him that “Iran is preparing to launch 2,000 missiles at once” on Israel in the next war, “to sink Israeli defenses,” after launching only 500 missiles during the last June war.

Faez added, “Israel feels that the mission has not been completed yet, and believes that there is no reason not to resume the conflict, and therefore Iran is redoubling its preparations for the next round.”

A disturbing nuclear scene

The newspaper reported that the previous nuclear agreement ended in 2015, and US sanctions were restored, while “it is believed that Iran today has enough uranium to produce 11 nuclear weapons.” However, the location of this stockpile is uncertain, although Tehran says it was buried under the rubble after the US strikes, while Israel claims that it was transferred to secret sites.

Iran also continues to develop a new enrichment site known as Pickaxe Mountain, and Tehran refuses to allow international inspectors to enter it.

The newspaper highlighted International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi’s statement to the Financial Times that most of Iran’s uranium stockpile “is still there,” estimating it at about “400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium,” that is, very close to the grade for military use.

Regional balances

The newspaper quoted Susan Maloney from the Brookings Institution as saying, “Iran is weaker than it was…but that may make it more dangerous because it may act desperately,” as she put it.

As for Dr. Hisham Heller from the Center for American Progress, he believes that “Israel wants to ensure the containment of the Iranian nuclear program, and since this is unlikely to succeed through negotiations, it may strike again,” he said, adding that “the Iranians are busy rebuilding, but as soon as they cross a certain line, Israel will attack them again.”

The newspaper says that some Iranian officials would like to reach a settlement and conclude a deal with US President Donald Trump, and they consider this justified because of the impact of sanctions on the country and that any additional resistance is in Israel’s interest and may weaken the Iranian government in light of popular pressure.

But other Iranian officials are pushing for confrontation, seeing no point in reaching out to Mr. Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and angered Iran again by bombing to help Israel in the midst of another round of nuclear negotiations.

The newspaper believes that both camps consider another round of confrontation with Israel inevitable, according to Fayez, who adds: “Therefore, the country is redoubling its preparations for the next round, and wants to result in a new balance that dispels the feeling of Iranian weakness.”

On the other hand, the newspaper indicates that there are attempts by major Arab countries to prevent the outbreak of a new regional war.

The bottom line is that this report paints a bleak picture of the Middle East on the eve of “a new confrontation between Israel and Iran.” There are no negotiations, no international oversight, and no mutual trust, but only an accelerating missile and nuclear arms race and revenge calculations that make the next war closer than ever before.