Haim Tomer Warns Iran Is Moving Toward Nuclear Threshold, Backs Monitored Agreement

Former senior Mossad official Haim Tomer said on Friday morning, November 13, that Iran was advancing in small steps toward the nuclear threshold. In an interview with Ron Koffman and Prof. Aryeh Eldad, he argued that an agreement allowing international monitoring was preferable to having no agreement. Tomer said the crucial question was when Iran would begin practical work, including converting enriched uranium into uranium metal and potentially conducting ballistic tests. He said such work required technological demonstrations that could be difficult to conceal. He recalled identifying Iranian efforts to develop nuclear-weapons capability in 2002, and described three groups that, he said, had operated for years while concealing themselves and changing names. He also said an Iranian figure had spoken on Thursday about factions inside the regime pressing to reverse the religious prohibition on nuclear weapons associated with Ali Khamenei. Tomer linked that discussion to pressure and threats against the regime, particularly from the United States. He questioned whether replacing the regime was the only way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “Between having no agreement and having an agreement, I favor an agreement,” Tomer said, explaining that an accord would permit monitoring. He cited the 2015 agreement as evidence that international pressure could bring Iran to an accord.