A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has suggested that the country may revise its nuclear doctrine if Israel attacks its nuclear facilities.
In an interview with Iran’s Fars News Agency on October 9, Brig. Gen. Rasoul Sanaei-Rad warned Israel against targeting these facilities.
“These days, there is talk of approaching zero hour and the reaction of the Zionists,” he said, emphasizing that even officials in the United States have been advising Israel to avoid such escalatory actions, indicating that the potential repercussions of striking Iran’s nuclear sites must be carefully considered.
Sanaei-Rad articulated that an attack on Iran’s nuclear centers could significantly alter the strategic landscape and lead to changes in Iran’s nuclear policies. He declared that targeting these facilities would cross “regional and global red lines” and reminded that there are established protocols regarding nuclear facilities that must be respected during wartime.
Iran’s primary nuclear facility is located in Natanz, a central city in Isfahan Province. The facility has previously been a target of cyberattacks attributed to Israel.
In April 2021, Iran accused Israel of carrying out a devastating cyberattack at Natanz that damaged its centrifuges. Later that month, Iran announced that it had enriched uranium to 60 percent, a level closer to weapons-grade material. Additionally, Iran attributed a drone strike on a military facility in Isfahan to Israel in April.
Sanaei-Rad cautioned that Israel must “reflect on Iran’s possible reaction,” warning that any attack on Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure could impact global fuel prices and energy security.
“The rational advice is not to take any action that will lead to the development of tension. If they want to take action, they should consider these issues,” Sanaei-Rad said.
He highlighted that Israel’s infrastructure is densely concentrated in a relatively small area, making it more vulnerable to a potential Iranian response.
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