Attack on Iran’s nuclear assets still in play, says ex-mossad boss

ISRAEL should seriously consider military strikes on Iran’s nuclear assets at Nantaz, the former head of Mossad said days before talks between Iran and Western powers resume in Vienna.

Yossi Cohen, who left the intelligence agency in June, said an attack by Israeli forces should be “on the table” if the next round of talks failed to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which has been ramped up since President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran. Iran has also reduced cooperation with the International Atomic

‘We must take away the capabilities from Iran because we cannot take away its motivations’

Energy Agency, the global nuclear watchdog

“Independent strikes on nuclear sites, if Iran takes this path that endangers our existence, should and must be on the table, unequivocally,” Mr Cohen said in an interview with Ynet News.

“A good deal could prevent Iran from reaching a bomb, and a bad agreement like the one signed in the past can’t do it perfectly,” he added. “The bottom line is that we must take away the capabilities from Iran because we will not be able to take away its motivations.”

Talks on reviving an Obama-era nuclear deal that eased sanctions on Iran when it agreed to curb its nuclear ambitions are due to start on Monday but both sides are pessimistic about the prospects for progress.

It is suspected that Israel once attacked the Natanz facility. It has never publicly admitted to it, but Mr Cohen has hinted that it was responsible.