Iran nuclear scientist assassination: A short history of the crisis that led to the killing

Iran had a peaceful nuclear programme for many years, but in the early 2000s concerns were raised that it was developing technology that could create nuclear weapons - despite the country being a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty

Not long after the firebrand then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a series of bold claims about uranium enrichment, the first of a number of UN resolutions was passed, aimed at forcing Iran to backpedal.

It wasn't until the 2015 nuclear deal, which happened after Mr Ahmadinejad was replaced as president by the incumbent Hassan Rouhani, that relations began to improve - albeit temporarily.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed by Iran, the US, the UK, Russia, China, Germany and the EU, paved the way for a relaxation of sanctions imposed on Iran in return for the Iranian government ensuring its nuclear programme would be "exclusively peaceful".

For a period of time diplomatic relations improved, with Iran providing evidence it was according with the deal's terms and its co-signatories allowing trade to increase.

This is an interesting article that presents a history of events pertaining to Iranian nuclear capability claims and resultant destruction to the program by others

The links describe the details of the various destructive strikes to the Iranian nuclear effort that have occurred over the years.

I am mindful of the claims at the end of the Bush administration that Iran would have a bomb in 24 months or less. It has not happened

It is my belief that the USA and Biden in particular, are not really relevant to what happens to the nuclear program in Iran. The alliance between Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia and the other GCC nations has the Iranian nuclear program under control.

Probably all of the problems Iran has with the rest of the world are self generated. For example, former president Ahmadinejad reportedly opened and closed every speech with a prayer to the Mahdi for his return. This is like a Christian praying for Armageddon. The Koran says that when the Mahdi returns the world will end in fire.

Reading the article here, note the number of times when Iranian officials issue threats. Having, unfortunately, known a lot of Iranian students, I think their culture issues dire threats as often as Westerners might say something akin to “oh, gosh.” But they are threats, nonetheless. As my mother wisely said, “pay attention to what people say they will do. You must believe they mean it or you may be unpleasantly surprised.” When someone says they are developing nuclear bombs, believes the end of the world in fire is a good thing, and are developing the means to deliver said nukes, the world is well advised to pay attention.

Why then are American liberals willing to help Iran despite the threats to destroy Western civilization? I have read several theories. One is that the Left believes that all of the seemingly obvious and mostly good decisions made by leaders so far have not delivered us to utopia. Therefore, the way to get to utopia is to do the opposite of making good, logical decisions. I think that is part of it. Also, if you delve deeply into what liberals are thinking it comes down to, American power is bad and unfair. If there was no American power the world would be a better, fairer place. A former low level State Department employee, who could be spotted as gay from a low flying plane, said, “Well, why shouldn’t Iran have nukes? The Soviets had nukes and nothing bad happened there, did it?” I would have pointed out that the Soviets never dressed their children in bomb vests for their birthday parties, but realized it was a waste of time talking to him.

The most dangerous times for the world is when the president of the United States is a wishy-washy liberal who says he will never use nukes. That’s like giving every dictator permission to attack whoever they like. Then, of course, Obama started droning people to death by the hundreds. That must have given lots of people cause to wonder what his responses would be. My concern about Biden is I don’t think he has any reasoning power left. That puts American policy firmly into the hands of his handlers. Who the heck are they?

Very much doubt that the Israelis and Saudis believe that they have Iran’s nuclear program “ very much in control”. The Israeli’s know that the Iranian people are intelligent , resouceful, have the knowledge, industrial infrastructure and ability to assemble quickly nuclear weapons. They also realize that Iranian patriots, aware that no nuclear armed country has yet to suffer a large scale bloody invasion and remembering the huge, inconsolable losses suffered by Iran in the Iraq invasion in the 1980s want their nation to have a nuclear deterence.

Yet Israel cannot ignore the persistent hostility and ongoing threats from the medeival “death loving” mullahs who in an aberration of history, control Iran and would have their finger on the nuclear button. Israel therefore has developed an extensive Mossad network within Iran for surveillance and offensive purposes. If war were to come, Mossad actions sabotaging, pin pointing targets and key assasinations would be an important part of Israel’s offense which would include stealthy F 35s, missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia may or may not be counted on to provide landing rights for refueling and rearming.

However if you are the chief of Mossad, you have worries. Biden is now the figurehead Preident. The Obama anti Isreal operatives are again being placed in the CIA and NSA. Mossad does not underestimate the CIA or the NSA. It may not be probable but it is certainly possible that on the ground CIA operatives or NSA listening technology has uncovered the extent and idenities of the Mossad operation within Iran. Can the chief of Mossad sleep well wondering if somehow those leftist, anti Israel operatives within the CIA and NSA will soon become aware of such information and pass it along to ultimately the mullahs?

There is little doubt that Israel and the Sunni states near Iran have some very common security concerns. Both view a strong, well armed, messianic Iran as an existential threat to their existence. Also Israel’s military prowness and technological achievements cannot be ignored by the rich, frightened, still socially backward Sunni states. Their own privlidged leaders, often decadent and incompetent, are never certain about the loyalty of their own citizens. An alliance with Israel makes perfect sense, at this time, to the leaders of those Arab Sunni nations.

However while this “alliance” has some definite benefits for Israel, it is highly doubtful that any serious thinker within Israel believes that this alliance is a granite cornerstone of the security edifice that will guarantee the future of Israel and the well being of the Jewish people. It would be nice if Israel in the event of hostilities were able to secure flyover rights and landing sites, but very much doubt the Isreali military expects that to happen.

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