Kumar Bahukhandi
Israeli PM Netanyahu, US President Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei-Photo courtesy- AI
After 48 hours of war with Iran, Israeli officials have appealed to the US for help in targeting Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Facility. Israel is unable to destroy this nuclear plant because it is underground.
Both Israel and Iran are standing on the brink of war at this time. Missiles are being fired from both sides. Many cities of both countries are devastated. Israel is selectively attacking Iran’s nuclear and military bases as well as other establishments. In response, Iran has targeted Israeli residential places. Israeli cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa have turned into rubble.
Meanwhile, Israel has asked America to support it in the war against Iran. Israel has formally requested America to support it in attacking Iran’s Fordo nuclear plant. But US President Donald Trump has currently refused to directly join Israel’s war against Iran. After 48 hours of war with Iran, Israeli officials have appealed to America to help target Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Facility. Because this nuclear plant is underground, Israel is unable to destroy it.
What is special about Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant?
Fordow is one of Iran’s major nuclear plants. This plant uses centrifuges to enrich uranium, which brings uranium to a high purity level. Fordow has about 2000 centrifuges, most of which are IR-6 models. About 350 of these centrifuges enrich uranium up to 60 percent purity.
Fordow is considered strategically important especially because of its geographical location and design, as it is built to avoid air attacks. This nuclear plant is about 32 kilometers north-east of Iran’s Qom city. This plant is built at a military base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). It is built completely underground under the mountain. Its location makes it safe from air attacks.
What is America’s stand on Israel’s request?
US President Trump is currently in no mood to openly take the field against Iran. The Trump administration is repeatedly refusing to directly support Israel against Iran. America’s entire focus is currently on keeping American assets safe in this region.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Israel should currently take on Iran on its own. He also warned Iran to avoid harming any American military personnel in the region.
A senior White House official said that any attack Israel makes on Iran will not be stopped. But we want Iran to come to the negotiating table to avoid this war.
What will happen if America supports Israel against Iran?
If America openly supports Israel against Iran in this war, then tension in the Middle East will increase tremendously. The entire Middle East will be directly thrown into the fire of war even if it does not want to. Iran has vowed that Tehran will also attack any country that helps Israel in this war. There are about 40 thousand American soldiers in the Middle East. In such a situation, the risk of missile or proxy attack on them may increase.
Apart from this, the possibility of attack on American military bases, embassies and naval ships in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea will increase immediately. The danger will not stop here. The possibilities of diplomatic solution to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions will almost end. Analysts say that Iran can completely exit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and accelerate its nuclear programs on a war footing, which will increase tension in the region. Its consequences can be even more dangerous. It will affect the Strait of Hormuz. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important sea routes in the world, from where 20 to 30 percent of global crude oil is exported. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar use this Strait of Hormuz to export their oil and gas. With America directly joining this war, this sea route will also become a war zone. Due to which oil prices will increase wildly and there will be turmoil in the global markets.
