Israeli Ambassador writes: Why Iran’s nuclear ambition could no longer be Ignored

Since 1979, the year of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Israel has sounded the alarm on a threat many chose to ignore, that has now reached a critical stage. The Iranian regime, propelled by apocalyptic ideology and unchecked military ambition, has moved ever closer to acquiring nuclear weapons capability. This is not a speculative concern – it is a matter of record.

On June 12, the IAEA Board of Governors stated unequivocally: that Tehran has been “in non-compliance with its obligations under its safeguards agreement”. In a separate report published on May 31, the Agency reported that Iran had not declared nuclear material or activities at three undisclosed sites, warning of potential “proliferation implications.” These are not just bureaucratic infractions — they are red flags for global security. Iran has crossed into the final stages of nuclear weapons development — a critical threshold where capability and intent dangerously align.

This is happening alongside Iran’s dramatic acceleration of its nuclear weapon program. Recent assessments suggest that Iran has amassed sufficient fissile material for up to nine nuclear bombs. At the same time, it has expanded its ballistic missile arsenal to an estimated 2,000 – 3,000 long-range missiles, capable of striking as far as parts Europe and beyond.

But capability is only part of the equation. Intent matters. Iran has made its intent painfully clear. On May 17, 2025, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated: “The Zionist regime is a lethal, dangerous, cancerous tumor that should certainly be eradicated — and it will be.” A year earlier, he vowed that “the divine promise to eliminate the Zionist entity will be fulfilled.” These are not isolated outbursts; they are part of a long-standing rhetoric that includes Holocaust denial, open antisemitism, and glorification of terrorism.

Iran’s support for terrorist organizations across the Middle East and beyond is not theory. It is a fact. Just one year ago, Argentina officially concluded that Iranian operatives were behind the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires — a brutal attack that killed 29 people and injured over 200. Iran was also implicated in the 2012 Burgas bus bombing in Bulgaria, which killed six Israeli tourists. Iranian plots have been thwarted in Germany, the Netherlands, Cyprus, and Thailand, among others.

Iran’s destabilizing activity is not confined to the Middle East. Its reach extends into Africa, where the Quds Force — Iran’s external operations arm — has been actively involved in intelligence and terror activity. Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah, have supported local organizations such as Saraya Zahra, which have been linked to plots and operational planning in countries such as Cameroon, the DRC, Ghana, and Niger.

Israel’s response is not one of choice, but necessity. It is a defensive measure against a dual threat: a nuclearized regime with genocidal ambitions and a rapidly growing ballistic arsenal aimed at our civilian centers. Many of these rockets are already pointed at Israeli cities, and with 500kg warheads, our civil defense has limited capacity to protect against a mass attack.

What would any responsible government do facing similar circumstances ? When one state  threatens another with annihilation and at the same time develop nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles to implement this intent ? I believe that any responsible government would not sit idle.

This is a moment for moral clarity when the global community, including Ghana, must take a stand. Iran today is not only the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. It is the most dangerous case of ideology-driven proliferation the world has seen in decades. The world cannot afford to wait for “the moment after.” We certainly cannot.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.