

What really happened to Iran's nuclear program? with Zohar Palti
10 snips Jun 25, 2025
Zohar Palti, former Head of the Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense and a veteran of Mossad, shares his unique insights into Iran's nuclear program. He discusses the challenges of assessing military strikes on Iran's fortified sites and the critical need for international cooperation. The conversation also delves into the evolving U.S.-Israel partnership in countering threats and reflects on intelligence failures leading up to the tragic events of October 7th. Palti emphasizes lessons learned for future national security strategies.
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Complexity of Assessing Nuclear Strikes
- Assessing the success of strikes on Iran's nuclear sites takes weeks or months due to complex intelligence gathering.
- Initial media reports on damage setbacks are often premature and can be misleading.
Key Iranian Sites Likely Destroyed
- Crucial Iranian nuclear sites like Fahan and Natanz have likely been severely damaged and lack substitutes.
- US and Israeli strikes involved multiple bomb waves to ensure site destruction.
Physical and Psychological Effects of Strike
- Beyond physical damage, Israel and the US significantly targeted missile launchers and ballistic missiles.
- Psychological impact from Israeli and US forces flying freely over Iran also weakens Iranian deterrence.