It is reportedly killed by Israel’s attacks on Israel’s Tehran capital, as well as targets nationwide at sites claimed to be linked to the nuclear program, as well as nuclear scientists.
Iranian President Masuud Pezeshkian The address that was aired On Friday, there will be a “strong” response to Israel, along with the 100 drones already launched.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will give the occupying regime a serious, wise and strong answer,” he said, referring to Israel.
Next, Euroneus looks at the options Iran could use to fight back against Israel in light of this recent escalation in the Shadow War.
“Iran’s worst response may be the most likely.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the targeted military operation was launched against Iran, preventing the country from producing nuclear weapons.
Hours before the Israeli attack, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded that Iran was not complying with its non-proliferation obligations.
Experts say one option for Iran in the wake of the strike is to continue developing nuclear weapons, which Israel considers as an “existential threat.”
“Israel has opened Pandora’s box. Iran’s worst reaction may be most likely. The decision to withdraw from its weapons control commitment and build nuclear weapons in earnest.” analysis From Kenneth Pollack, vice president of policy at the Middle East Institute of Washington.
An analysis by Jonathan Panikov, director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the outrage in Israel’s attacks could mean “Iran cannot sit on the ‘proverb’ nuclear fence, and they must hurry or take risks to not have a bomb, or put no bomb at risk.
“For many Iranian leaders, Iran (or the possibility of having one) without nuclear weapons is an existential threat to the survival of the regime itself,” Panikov continued.
A recent IAEA report found that Iran enriched uranium by up to 60%. This turns out to be a short technical step from the weapon grade level (which is often considered 90% uranium by the IAEA).
The agency said it would not be able to verify the country’s total uranium supply from 2021 onwards, but estimates it will reach approximately 9,247 kg as of May 17, 2025. The amount of enriched uranium is up to 60%, 408.6 kg.
However, estimates from the Washington Institute for International Safety of Science in 2022 believed that modifying nuclear weapons to coordinate nuclear weapons with 60% of uranium was “suitable for Iran’s capabilities.”
Israeli state authorities The era of Israel On Friday, Iran currently has enough uranium for nine nuclear weapons and is taking measures to “weaponize” or build nuclear bombs.
Iranian officials have long argued that their nuclear proliferation programme is peaceful, according to a report by the Associated Press.
“An aggressive pursuit” of new Iranian nuclear deals needed
Iran’s nuclear response will be rolled out for a long time, Pollak added, adding that there is a possibility of Tehran withdrawal from the Proliferation Treaty and the 2015 nuclear agreement.
According to Pollack, the best strategy is to “actively pursue” a new nuclear deal with Tehran, but “it’s unlikely that Iran’s leadership will be the least interested in given the possibility of anger at Israeli attacks.”
Without the new contract, Pollak argues that Israel has given Iran’s short-term setback to Iran’s nuclear program, but to ensure that the nuclear threat “is not long after that.”
US-Iranian negotiators were scheduled to meet in Oman for talks on Sunday in the sixth round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Associated Press.
Analyses by Farzin Nadimmi of the Washington Near East Policy Institute show that future deals with Iran should also include missile restrictions.
What other weapons do Iran have?
There are other options that Iran can take to retaliate against Israel. This could potentially beat Israeli defense systems, known as “Iron Dollar,” including drones and missile attacks, but experts added.
The US Director of National Intelligence said in 2024 Iran owns the “largest ballistic missile arsenal” in the Middle East and “continue to emphasize the increased accuracy, lethality and reliability of these systems.”
A recent threat assessment from the US military found Iran to be a “volume” of ballistic trajectories, cruise missiles and drones that can attack across the region.
The country’s defense industry has “robust development and manufacturing capabilities” of low-cost weapons like drones, the report continued.
US General Kenneth Mackenzie told a Senate Committee hearing in 2022 that Iranians have more than 3,000 ballistic missiles of various types that can reach Tel Aviv.
Mackenzie also said the Iranians have made “notable advances” in ballistic missiles despite a “very important sanctions regime.”
The arsenal includes a medium-range system that could reach Israel, the Arabian Peninsula or southeastern Europe, Nadimi added. His analysis added that these missiles are believed to boast polar speeds, pilot warheads, decoys and penetration aids.
For example, state media reports claim that Iran has used Fatta-1 Hi-sonic missiles against Israel in the past.
Explained by an analyst CNN It has a warhead with an operational re-entry vehicle, allowing small adjustments to avoid missile defenses during flight.
Last month, Iranian media reported that authorities had debuted a new domestically produced solid fuel missile called Qasem Basir.
Iran’s Minister of Defense Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh argued in local media that the missiles have a range of at least 1,200 km and are designed to avoid systems like US-made patriot systems.
The missiles can also identify specific targets between the decoys, making them immune to electronic warfare, he added.
Iran is also working on “solid propellant technology” to facilitate rapid rocket launches to dispatch satellites that can adapt to intersatellite missiles.
Israel’s recent attacks have targeted the installation of ballistic missiles and drones as Iran makes it more complicated for Iran to respond, according to Atlantic Council Rachel Whitlerk.
Pollack said Iran could launch a cyberattack against Israel. Because there are records of it doing well in 2023, when some hospitals in Israel shut down electricity.
Still, Pollack writes that there is “uncertainty” about cyber capabilities in both Israel and Iran.
“The vulnerabilities that Iran has and the possible vulnerabilities he may have discovered in Israel’s infrastructure are not entirely clear,” he said.
