The ongoing crisis in West Asia could further escalate anytime now. The reason: Iran is preparing for another massive strike on Israel, this time from Iraq. Axios news outlet has reported that the attack could be launched before US elections on November 5.
The Shi’ite nation could use a large number of drones and ballistic missiles in the attack. Launching the attack from Iraq is a part of Tehran’s careful strategy: It doesn’t want Israel to retaliate and attack its nuclear and oil sites. So, a better option would be to strike Israel from outside Iran.
Iran’s army or Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami warned that Israel made a big mistake by attacking Iran last week and now Tehran’s response will be “different from any scenario” the Jewish nation might expect.
Mohammad Mohammadi, chief of staff to Iran’s supreme leader, also said his country’s response will be “strong” and will Israel “regret” its attack. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself has already ordered Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to prepare to strike Israel.
Now, the biggest question remains: What kind of missiles and drones Iran could use in its attack on Israel?
Last month, we reported how Iran has unveiled the so-called Father of Nuclear Bomb, a massive weapon which officials claim is even superior to the nukes.
Brigadier General Ebrahim Rostami on Oct 15 claimed that the weapon is well-tried and tested and was used in an attack on oil tankers in the UAE in 2019. That’s all we know about this mystery weapon. Because, as per Rostami, the information about this mystery weapon is hidden from even the country’s lawmakers. Rostami said it is “highly classified and top-secret information.”
But even as Iran flashes its father of nuclear bomb, we must not forget about the elephant in the room: Iran’s much-advanced nuclear programme. Iran could be forced to expedite the development of a nuclear bomb because of two major reasons:
- Its proxies are now much weakened. Iran always relied on its militias in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and Iraq for security barrier against Israel. But over the last year, Israel has largely eliminated threats from Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran’s proxy assets are of not much use now. The balance of power is now heavily tilted in favour of Israel. So, by exploding a nuclear bomb, Iran could re-establish the balance of power in the region.
- Tehran is also watching US elections closely. There are chances Trump could stage a comeback and then continue his radical anti-Iran agenda. He even supports Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. If that attack happens, it could delay Iran’s programme by months or even years.
There is also a growing consensus in Iran that the country should develop a nuclear bomb now. A recent poll showed that 69 percent people now support Iran’s nuclear programme.
It’s also a fact that over the last years, a number of Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated. Iran has accused Israel of carrying out these killings. So, Iran doesn’t want to see more high-profile killings at this time and let Israel buy more time.
But Iran wants to save the nuclear card as the last resort. Till then, it would try to rely on its mystery bomb in order to deter Israel and the US.