Iran threatens to strike Israel’s nuclear sites.
Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, although the country has maintained a policy of deliberate ambiguity, neither confirming nor denying their existence. This strategic stance, often referred to as “nuclear opacity,” has allowed Israel to deter potential threats while avoiding the political and diplomatic consequences of openly declaring a nuclear arsenal. Intelligence assessments and independent analyses suggest that Israel has developed nuclear capabilities since the late 1960s, but the government continues to refrain from signing the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Tehran Warns of Retaliatory Strikes on Israel’s ‘Secret Nuclear Facilities’ If Attacked
Tehran – Iran’s highest security authority has issued a stern warning that its armed forces are prepared to immediately target Israel’s “secret nuclear facilities” in the event of a military strike on Iranian territory. This declaration follows revelations by senior Iranian officials claiming to have obtained highly sensitive intelligence on Israeli defense infrastructure, including detailed information about concealed nuclear sites.
In a statement released through the state-run media and reported by the Xinhua news agency, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) emphasized that the Islamic Republic has made significant progress in intelligence-gathering operations against Israel. According to the SNSC, months of strategic surveillance and espionage have enabled Tehran’s military establishment to accurately identify and map out a list of high-value Israeli targets, which include covert nuclear installations.
The warning comes in the aftermath of a statement by Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, who recently announced that Iran had successfully acquired what he described as a “significant cache” of Israeli intelligence documents. Khatib stated that this data had been extracted through complex intelligence operations, executed by Iran’s security and espionage networks both regionally and internationally. He indicated that the documents contained “classified and actionable intelligence” which could substantially enhance Iran’s retaliatory military posture.
According to the SNSC’s statement, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully capable of launching swift and precise counterstrikes targeting Israel’s most sensitive nuclear infrastructure. This is not a threat, but a strategic declaration designed to deter hostile actions and reinforce the security of our nation against reckless aggression.”
The council added that the intelligence haul, which includes operational data, surveillance imagery, and internal communications, confirms the location and configuration of what it described as “concealed nuclear development and storage sites” deep within Israeli territory. It further stated that these sites have been deliberately kept out of public and international scrutiny under Israel’s longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities.
Israel and the Doctrine of Nuclear Ambiguity
Israel has never officially confirmed or denied possessing nuclear weapons, maintaining a policy of “nuclear opacity” — a deliberate strategic posture aimed at deterring adversaries without drawing the diplomatic consequences that accompany open declarations. While the Israeli government has never signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), multiple intelligence assessments and independent reports have long held that Israel began developing nuclear capabilities in the late 1960s and currently possesses an undeclared arsenal.
Analysts believe Israel’s nuclear doctrine is based on deterrence and survivability, with weapons allegedly stored and potentially deliverable via aircraft, ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched platforms. The ambiguity surrounding these capabilities has often added complexity to regional security dynamics, particularly in relation to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and broader Middle East geopolitics.
Iran’s Strategic Response and Deterrence Policy
The SNSC’s latest remarks reflect a growing shift in Tehran’s posture, suggesting a more aggressive deterrence framework in response to what it views as increasingly provocative rhetoric and covert operations by Israel. “This forms part of a broader strategic initiative aimed at countering disinformation by hostile actors and reinforcing Iran’s deterrent capabilities,” the council’s statement declared.
Iran also emphasized that its newly acquired intelligence does not merely serve military objectives but forms part of a larger national defense strategy. The intelligence is also being analyzed for its implications on regional cyber warfare, economic sabotage efforts, and proxy conflicts across Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
In addition, the statement warned that any military aggression by Israel targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — whether through airstrikes, sabotage, or cyber operations — would be met with proportionate and targeted retaliation. Such responses could potentially extend beyond military sites to include economic assets, military installations, and political centers of gravity within Israel.
International Response and Escalation Concerns
The sharp rhetoric has already triggered diplomatic ripples across the international community. Observers fear that any escalation between the two regional adversaries could draw in additional powers and spark a wider conflict, particularly given the fragile security situation in the region. The U.S., Russia, and several European countries have consistently urged restraint and renewed calls for diplomatic engagement over the Iranian nuclear issue.
At the same time, the broader Middle East remains a volatile theater, with Iranian-backed militias and Israeli military operations frequently clashing in Syria and Lebanon. Cyber warfare between the two nations has also intensified in recent years, targeting infrastructure, financial institutions, and security networks on both sides.
Conclusion
With this latest statement, Iran appears to be making clear that it views its access to Israeli intelligence as not only a defensive tool but a strategic equalizer in the face of potential threats. The message is designed both to deter preemptive Israeli action and to signal Tehran’s readiness to escalate in ways previously unspoken.
As tensions continue to mount, the region watches closely, aware that one miscalculation or covert strike could potentially trigger a broader confrontation — one involving not just conventional military forces, but possibly nuclear-armed states operating under a veil of ambiguity and deep mistrust.