There was no immediate response or comment from Iran. But on Saturday, the Iranian newspaper Kayhan published an opinion piece by Iranian analyst Sadollah Zarei, suggesting that the Israeli installation Dimona would be targeted after the attack on Natanz. Zarei cited the idea of ”eye for an eye” in his remarks.
He should take action “against the Dimona nuclear installation”. “This is because no other action is on the same level as the Natanz incident.”
The Dimona reactor is believed to be the centerpiece of an undeclared nuclear weapons program. Israel does not confirm or deny that it has a vast nuclear arsenal.
While Kayhan is a small-circulation newspaper, its editor-in-chief, Hossein Shariatmadari, has been appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has been described as his adviser in the past.
Zarei has called for retaliatory strikes on Israel in the past. In November, he suggested Iran hit the Israeli port city of Haifa for Israel’s alleged involvement in the killing of a scientist who founded Iran’s military nuclear program decades earlier. However, Iran did not retaliate then.
Israel and Iran are superior enemies. Israel accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons and has opposed US-led efforts to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran. With the encouragement of Israel, then-President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018.
Iran has recently begun enriching a small amount of uranium with up to 60% purity, the highest level ever for its program, which is even closer to arms levels. However, Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons capability. Israel has twice bombed other Middle Eastern nations to target its nuclear programs.
All the incidents take place while Iran is negotiating in Vienna with the world powers over the USA that could re-enter its nuclear agreement with the world powers. Negotiators there have described the talks as constructive so far, although they acknowledge that Natanz’s sabotage could strain the talks.
The Israeli government says the agreement will not prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. He also says he does not address Iran’s long-range missile program and the support of hostile proxies in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and has called for deeper control of Israel’s nuclear facility in Dimona.