“The idea of continuing to develop a nuclear bomb still lives in their hearts. We have the responsibility to ensure that this nuclear project, which was severely damaged through cooperation with the Americans, is never reactivated,” Barnea declared during a ceremony for Mossad awards.
The leader of Israeli intelligence referred to airstrikes targeting nuclear facilities, leaders, high-ranking military officials, and Iranian scientists during an open war between the two countries in June, which also included a wave of bombings by the United States in the Islamic Republic.
“Iran believes it can deceive the world again and implement another bad nuclear deal. This is a country that will advance as soon as it can. We will not allow a bad deal to materialize,” Barnea stated, as quoted by Israeli media.
The leader of Israel’s “secret” service also issued a threat referencing the terrorist attack last Sunday in Australia, which killed at least 16 people, including one of the shooters, during a Jewish celebration on a beach near Sydney, treated by Canberra authorities as an act motivated by antisemitism and inspired by the jihadist group ISIS.
“We will find the attackers and their Iranian mentors, as well as the jihadists, wherever they are, and we will settle accounts with them. Justice will be done and observed. They know that,” he asserted.
Iran suspended its cooperation agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in October, in response to the reintroduction of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic the previous month.
This agreement had been negotiated after Tehran suspended its cooperation with the international agency following the 12-day war with Israel.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi announced on Monday that agency officials had resumed inspections in Iran, but still do not have access to “key facilities,” referring to sites targeted by bombings in June.
Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear program is peaceful and rejects allegations that it seeks to develop atomic weapons.
