ABC News Daily Was Iran really about to build a nuclear bomb?
14 snips
Jun 17, 2025 Dr. Ben Zala, a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Monash School of Social Sciences, explores Iran's nuclear ambitions and the geopolitical tensions involving Israel and the U.S. He discusses whether Iran is genuinely on the brink of building a nuclear bomb, analyzing Israel's military strategies against Iranian sites. The conversation delves into the fallout from collapsed U.S.-Iran negotiations and the implications of potential military actions on regional security and the future of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Iran's Nuclear Sites Are Well Fortified
- Israel's strikes hit above-ground nuclear sites extensively but face challenges destroying deeply fortified underground facilities.
- Iran has heavily fortified these sites anticipating attacks, complicating effective strikes without specific weapons.
US Holds Key Bunker-Buster Weapons
- Only the US possesses the specialized bunker-busting bombs capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities.
- Israel currently lacks access to such weapons and acts without full US military involvement.
Iran's Nuclear Timeline Overstated
- Israeli claims that Iran was months away from a bomb have persisted for years and often lack strong evidence.
- Expert consensus suggests Iran is 2-3 years from producing a nuclear weapon, contradicting imminent threat narratives.