Why it matters:
Such an admission not only confirms Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons, which it has never publicly acknowledged, but also highlights the risks of nuclear escalation in Middle East conflicts. Israel is not a signatory to the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and remains outside International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversight.
What he’s saying:
John Kiriakou stated that “for the first time, Israeli officials threatened to use nuclear weapons if the United States did not bomb Iran’s deep underground bunkers.” He said Trump believed U.S. bombing could “prevent the start of World War III” by stopping Israel from acting independently with nuclear force.
What they’re saying:
Israeli authorities have consistently maintained deliberate ambiguity about their nuclear program. While they have never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, past whistleblowers such as Mordechai Vanunu have said that Israel began developing them in the 1950s and achieved capability by the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Key points:
- First-ever direct nuclear threat from Israel to a U.S. president, according to the source.
- Trump viewed a U.S. strike on Iran as a lesser risk compared to an Israeli nuclear attack.
- Israel has not joined the NPT and is outside IAEA inspections.
- Historical whistleblower accounts underscore Israel’s longstanding nuclear arsenal.
Go deeper:
Critics argue that Israel’s nuclear opacity, coupled with its willingness to openly threaten nuclear use in private channels, poses a challenge to international non‑proliferation efforts. The alleged conversation also adds to debates over whether Washington’s West Asia's policy is shaped by independent strategic calculation or allied pressure.
ahmad shirzadian - ahmad shirzadian
