Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Jun 14: Israel's Ambassador Reuven Azar has issued a stern warning to Iran, urging the Islamic nation to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons or face dire consequences. Speaking to NDTV, the envoy said that Israel had no option but to launch *Operation Rising Lion*, targeting over 200 Iranian locations, including military and nuclear sites.
“Iran must come to the table with clean hands. If they fail to do so, the outcome will be catastrophic,” Azar stated, asserting that Israel will not allow Tehran to endanger its existence.
Drawing parallels with the past, he said, “Saddam Hussein, the Assad regime, and Gaddafi all tried to acquire nuclear weapons—and failed. Iran should learn from history.”
Azar highlighted the gravity of the situation by pointing to Iran's open hostility towards Israel. “This is not just about nuclear weapons. This is about a radical regime that has repeatedly vowed to wipe Israel off the map. Combine that with weapons of mass destruction and it becomes a threat that must be confronted.”
Elaborating on the urgency behind *Operation Rising Lion*, the ambassador accused Iran of misleading the global community while clandestinely enriching uranium. “Israel had warned that it would act if Iran pursued nuclear weapons. That is exactly what we did,” he said.
Azar outlined Iran’s three-pronged threat to Israel—its nuclear ambition, a massive buildup of ballistic missiles, and support to proxy groups. “Iran plans to build up to 20,000 ballistic missiles in six years. Each of these can carry 1,000 kg of TNT. That’s enough to devastate a nation as small as Israel,” he warned.
He also criticized Iran’s regional strategy of surrounding Israel with hostile militias. “Hamas, Hezbollah, and militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen form a 'ring of fire' around us. That too had to be addressed,” he said.
Despite the aggressive measures, Azar reiterated that diplomacy still had a role—if Iran acted sincerely. “Diplomacy can work, but it must not be used as a cover for developing a nuclear arsenal. Even the IAEA confirmed that Iran has violated its safeguards agreements,” he said.
Azar dismissed the notion that Israel stands alone. “We are in constant touch with our allies, especially the United States,” he said, asserting that Israel’s security concerns are widely understood and shared.