1 month ago
Last Updated:February 25, 2025, 18:00 IST
Iranian defence systems around its nuclear sites have been ramped anticipating an attack from the US and Israel.
Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Iran has heightened security around its nuclear facilities, fearing a potential attack by Israel and the US, according to a report by the UK-based newspaper The Telegraph.
The West Asian nation is strengthening defences at crucial nuclear and missile sites and has deployed more air defence systems in those locations.
This move comes amidst rising concerns over a possible joint military operation by Israel and the US.
Earlier, US intelligence had cautioned both the Biden and Trump administrations about Israel’s alleged plans to strike key Iranian nuclear sites this year.
The report by the UK-based newspaper said that Iran has been fortifying its nuclear sites for years but has intensified over the past year since Israel launched its first attack.
Israel conducted airstrikes on the Parchin military complex near Tehran, destroying the “Taleghan 2" facility, which was reportedly involved in active nuclear weapons research, as per a report by US-based news outlet Axios.
“They are just waiting for the attack and are anticipating it every night and everything has been on high alert – even in sites that no one knows about," the The Telegraph report said, citing its sources.
US President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House for a second term in January, has reinstated his “maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Iran, mirroring his approach during his first term.
Under this policy, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons, an allegation that Tehran has consistently denied.
Trump has recently called for striking a deal with Iran, but Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month (February 15) said, “no problem will be solved by negotiating with America".
A day later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would “finish the job" against Iran with US support, referring to groups it is known to back.
“Over the last 16 months, Israel has dealt a mighty blow to Iran’s terror axis. Under the strong leadership of President (Donald) Trump and with your unflinching support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job," Netanyahu said.
In the wake of Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 2023 attack, Israel has fought wars against the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group in Gaza and Tehran-allied Hezbollah in Lebanon.
It has also faced attack from Iran-backed armed groups in Yemen and Iraq arrayed against Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.
“Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in countering the threat of Iran," the Israeli prime minister added.
Michael Waltz, the US national security adviser, last week said that “all options are on the table".
“They are an irrational actor that we cannot allow to have their finger on the button," he added.
Location :Tehran, Iran
First Published:February 25, 2025, 17:41 IST
News world Iran Sounds ‘High Alert’, Fears US-Israel Joint Operation Against Its Nuclear Sites: Report
