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‘Dirty Bomb’ Attack: This Could Be Iran’s Next Move Against Israel
National Security Journal ^ | 6/15/2025 | Michael Rubin

Posted on 06/15/2025 5:24:33 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111

Israel may have struck Iran before it could build a fissile nuclear weapon, but the Islamic Republic can still cause tremendous destruction short of a nuclear explosion. If Khamenei wants to make good on his threats, his next step will likely be to hit Israel with dirty bombs to spread radiation over large sections of its urban areas.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: defense; iran; israel; michaelrubin; military; mullahloversonfr; rubin; trolllfarm
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How bad could this all get now?
1 posted on 06/15/2025 5:24:33 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
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To: whyilovetexas111

2 posted on 06/15/2025 5:26:24 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: whyilovetexas111

I really don’t think Iran has any way of delivering a dirty bomb. If they did, they would have already launched one. They must know by now that Israel is not going to stop bombing them until their military and leaders are history. So if they had a dirty bomb and could launch it they would have done it by now. Dropping one from a bomber wouldn’t work it would be shot down before getting close enough, and they probably don’t have a ballistic missile capability for a dirty bomb. I just hope to God I’m right.


3 posted on 06/15/2025 5:34:03 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: grey_whiskers

Oh, I can supply you with what ever you need if I could play with your torpedoes.


4 posted on 06/15/2025 5:36:55 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: whyilovetexas111

I bet Tehran will cease to exist within 24 hours of radiation being detected in Israel. Iran uses a dirty bomb? Israel has something a lot better. Playing the radiation game will go badly for the Mullahs. And I bet Trump will back it 100%.


5 posted on 06/15/2025 5:37:23 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: Omnivore-Dan
I really don’t think Iran has any way of delivering a dirty bomb. If they did, they would have already launched one. [...] and they probably don’t have a ballistic missile capability for a dirty bomb.

The Shahab-3 can carry a payload of up to 1,200 kg.

Even if we grant that carrying the max. payload reduces range, the variants Iran is firing should be able to carry at least 600 kg.

Building a "dirty" nuclear bomb (i.e., a radiological dispersal device = RDD) does not require the same level of expertise as constructing a fission bomb, nor need it be as heavy.

A few pounds of radiological material added on to a conventional explosive would suffice.

Iran could also simply load the warhead with nerve gas.

Nightmarish, I know - but let's be realistic.

Of course, the Israeli response would, in any case, be devastating.

Regards,

6 posted on 06/15/2025 5:46:19 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Omnivore-Dan

I hope you are right as well, but a crude dirty bomb could be snuck in anywhere. The orthodox Muslims have nothing to fear as their koran states, and paid bad actors do what they do.

Money is the lubricant of it all, will be interesting to see what all the proxies do when their paychecks stop.

Seeing the “leadership” of Iran flee shows you just how committed to the “cause” they were.

Hopefully this will give the Iranian people a chance, but they also created what they have now, Shaw bad, theocracy good, theocracy bad……


7 posted on 06/15/2025 5:46:25 AM PDT by blitz128
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To: ClearCase_guy

A dirty bomb would result in Israel and American forces leaving Iran looking like Gaza within a week. President Trump MIGHT tell civilians to flee into the desert, but President Trump would not stop until the Islamist are decimated.


8 posted on 06/15/2025 5:46:57 AM PDT by Ponyexpress9790 (Every one that votes democrat is your enemy, there is no co-existing with traitors and terrorists. )
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To: whyilovetexas111

Deep State signalling ideas to Persians now?


9 posted on 06/15/2025 5:55:35 AM PDT by epluribus_2 (!)
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To: whyilovetexas111

Many years ago I read an article questioning the lethality of low doses of radiation. The science behind it is kinda suspect. The author argued that a dirty bomb may be a small public health hazard (slightly increased incidence of thyroid cancer) but for an individual it is nothing to worry about.


10 posted on 06/15/2025 5:57:06 AM PDT by edwinland
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To: alexander_busek

Thanks for the info. I still think they would have done it by now if they could. They must know the end is near, and we (the U.S.) would probably get involved if they used radio active dirty bombs. Also, their nuke facilities are currently being destroyed.


11 posted on 06/15/2025 6:04:22 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: Omnivore-Dan

If Iran had a dirty bomb why wouldn’t they have used it already?


12 posted on 06/15/2025 6:08:05 AM PDT by Col Frank Slade
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To: whyilovetexas111

Iran definitely would not survive that tactic.


13 posted on 06/15/2025 6:10:26 AM PDT by Eli Kopter (ביחד ננצח הלב שלנו שבוי בעזה Together we will win, our heart is captive in Gaza.)
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To: grey_whiskers

(Does Israel 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 have nuclear weapons?)

Well, only for roughly 60 years

Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower knew
about Dimona in 1958 when construction
🚧🏗️🚧🏗️🚧 started

I think Ike understood


14 posted on 06/15/2025 6:10:44 AM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: blitz128

I don’t think it would be easy to sneak anything into Israel now. I’m sure their borders are as closely guarded as can be. Their Koran is a piece of propaganda. Sure they have suicide bombers, who want to be in heaven with virgins and other nonsense, but by far, most of them do not want to die. Remember how the Iraqis ran when Bush’s “Shock and awe” hit them? They dropped their weapons and ran for their lives.


15 posted on 06/15/2025 6:14:52 AM PDT by Omnivore-Dan
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To: whyilovetexas111

First response would be to bomb the big reactor in Tehran and let it melt down.

Israel has studiously avoided damage to that live reactor to avoid this.

But FAFO Iran.


16 posted on 06/15/2025 6:18:41 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: whyilovetexas111

Iran fires dirty warhard. Israel shoots it down over Jordan.


17 posted on 06/15/2025 6:21:58 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
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To: whyilovetexas111

“...will likely be...”

Likely?

Possiblly, maybe.

But likely?


18 posted on 06/15/2025 6:26:53 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: edwinland

Nice job. I would bet the writer never even took high school physics. I always discount any article making scientific claims that fails to cite a single science fact. The giveaway is that he says ‘over a wide area.’ So he doesn’t even grasp the basic concept of dilution.

Public panic, yes; public health hazard, not really.


19 posted on 06/15/2025 6:28:54 AM PDT by FirstFlaBn
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To: alexander_busek

Nerve gas is a lot harder to deliver than you think.

It needs a relatively low heat explosion to disperse, and blowing wind is its enemy as it quickly will dissipate or if formulated differently will have a very localized effect.

Where it works are hundreds of little shells fired by artillery blanketing exposed troops.

(I was artillery in Ft Rucker and had “special” weapons training. I honestly think the main advantage of chemical weapons is they make the other side lug around a ton of protective gear.)


20 posted on 06/15/2025 6:30:30 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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