Iran’s bomb threat

The last thing the world needs at the moment is another conflict in a region that produces significant quantities of oil and gas. Yet developments in the Gulf should cause alarm. Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett believes Iran is now “dangerously close” to completing its nuclear weapons programme.

He told the Telegraph that Tehran will soon have its hands on a bomb unless the West stands up to the regime in the long-running wrangle over the weapons-grade enrichment of uranium.

Mr Bennett said Israeli intelligence shows Iran is enriching uranium at an unprecedented rate, despite efforts in Vienna to revive the diplomatic dialogue designed to divert the programme into civilian uses only. If enrichment is at 60 per cent or above experts believe that will produce enough fissile material to develop a nuclear weapon. Suspicions have been enhanced by Tehran’s refusal to co-operate on an investigation by the UN’S atomic agency.

Iran resumed work on its weapons programme after Donald Trump withdrew from the Obamaera nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. Iran’s rulers may have concluded that if they want them lifted they should complete the programme and negotiate from a position of strength.

But Israel, as the country most directly threatened by Iran’s regional aggression, is unlikely to give them that option. It is looking to the UK and other Western countries to set up a “trip-wire” mechanism to hit Iran with greater sanctions if it continues on the current path.

It is critical that Western leaders do not ignore these warnings. Israel has made clear it will not allow Iran to become a nuclear weapons state.