400 Seconds to Tel-Aviv: Israel-Iran Tensions at Breaking Point over Nuclear Program
Relations between Israel and Iran show no sign of stabilising as the two states traded threats this week after Iran announced the development of their new hypersonic missile.
The hypersonic missile was unveiled by the Iranian government this week in a ceremony attended by Iranian President Ebrahim Rais. It is allegedly capable of reaching Israel in 400 seconds and travelling up to 15 times the speed of sound, as highlighted by billboards placed in the capital Tehran. In what appears to be an attempt to intimidate Israel, the billboards carry a menacing message in both Persian and Hebrew. It reads ‘400 seconds to Tel-Aviv’, a direct threat to Israel's largest city. In addition, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that the hypersonic missile has the ability to penetrate air defence missile systems and detonate anti-missile systems, including Israel's Iron Dome defence system. The Iron Dome defence system detects enemy rockets before tracking them and launching a missile to intercept them.
Iran's claims have yet to be independently verified, but experts claim they follow the tangible process of missile development.
There is no coincidence that Israel is mentioned as a target. The two states have historically remained deadlocked in a ‘proxy war’ since 1985, with Iran's hostility following the 1979 Iranian Revolution after the new Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, withdrew Iran’s recognition of Israel as a state and severed diplomatic and commercial ties. Over the last 40 years, Iran has provided funding, weapons, and training to groups, including the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad - both designated terrorist organisations by many countries, and vowing to carry out attacks on Israel.
Since the announcement of Iran's hyper missile, nicknamed ‘Fattah’ after one of the 99 names of God in Islam, meaning ‘victory giver’, both sides have traded threats as tensions show no sign of easing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains consistent with his position: military action is not off the table, and with the recent unveiling of the hypersonic missile, it is getting closer to the point where it may be the only option. Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stated that if Iran continues to develop its nuclear program, Israel will have no choice but to stage a pre-emptive attack to defend itself. Iran has attacked Israel, describing them as a ‘Zionist regime’ and refusing to recognise the state.
Despite being described as a ‘cold war’, both sides have taken measures to attack each other. Cyber attacks on Iranian infrastructure and air strikes on Iranian bases in Syria and Iraq are examples of numerous situations that have been attributed to Israel. However, the state has never claimed responsibility for these actions. Similarly, Iran has been attributed to attempted assassination plots, car bomb attacks, and smuggling weapons to terrorist organisations.
After a stalemate was reached between both countries in securing a nuclear agreement between Iran and other world powers, Israel is preparing for war against the IRGC and Iran. War between both states would be catastrophic, it is unlikely that the United States and the United Kingdom would be able to remain impartial. Not only could this have implications for nuclear warfare, but an Israeli attack on Iran would also likely trigger the world's first international cyberwar. Iran's nuclear program has led to international condemnation. Several countries and organisations, including the United States and United Nations, have imposed sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program. For now, attempts at reconciliation between the two states have resulted in a stalemate; the lives of millions of people will be endangered if war were to break out.