Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Mar 1: While President Donald Trump and his administration justified military strikes against Iran as necessary to counter an imminent nuclear and missile threat, national security analysts say these claims are exaggerated or inaccurate.

Trump and senior U.S. officials argued that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States. However, arms control expert Matthew Bunn said Iran does not have the capability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels, noting that key nuclear facilities were destroyed in U.S. strikes last June and major experts in Iran’s programme were eliminated.

U.S. intelligence and independent analysts, including Mona Yacoubian, suggest that while Iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the Middle East, it is likely at least a decade away from building missiles capable of reaching the U.S.

The recent U.S.-Israeli strikes, described as targeting missile capabilities and leadership, reportedly killed hundreds and wounded many, though Iranian officials initially denied any deaths among senior leaders. Trump claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed, though Iran’s Foreign Ministry insisted he remained “safe and sound.”

Analysts warn that calls for regime change and urging Iranians to rise up, as made by Trump in social media remarks, are unlikely to succeed. Yacoubian noted that Iran has succession plans in place, and citizens may be reluctant to act amidst fears of reprisals following the January crackdown on protests. Bunn added that the regime may now be more desperate, but the environment is not conducive to a popular uprising.

While the Trump administration justified the attacks as preventing an “intolerable risk” to U.S. security, experts emphasize that assertions regarding Iran’s imminent nuclear weapon development and long-range missile threat appear significantly overstated.