Last night, Israel embarked upon “Operation Rising Lion”, initiating decisive military measures against the Islamic Republic of Iran. It struck at the Natanz nuclear facility, at the heart of the Iranian nuclear enrichment and nuclear ballistic program. It eliminated General Hossein Salami, the Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest ranking military officer, as well as several nuclear scientists.

 Since the Islamic Revolution of 46 years ago, Iran has been assiduously working on its nuclear capabilities. During the 2015 JCPOA, it vowed to never enrich above the 3.6 per cent level of highly enriched uranium, “for peaceful purposes.” Yesterday, Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Agency warned, together with 19 other countries, that Iran has violated the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the first time in 20 years. 

 Today the Iranians have amassed at least 274.8 kilograms of highly enriched uranium at the 60 per cent level, which brings them within days of the enrichment level-90 percent- necessary for several atomic bombs.  The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has enough highly enriched uranium for at least 9 nuclear bombs.

Yesterday, Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned, together with 19 other countries, that Iran has violated the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the first time in 20 years. In response to this, Iran vowed to open a third uranium enrichment site.

This escalating situation has drawn significant attention from the international community, with calls for immediate dialogue and intervention. The geopolitical landscape has grown increasingly volatile, as nations weigh the repercussions of Iran's nuclear ambitions and Israel's bold countermeasures. Diplomatic efforts have been strained as alliances are tested, with some countries expressing cautious support for Israel's actions, while others advocate for restraint and an emphasis on negotiation. Amid this turmoil, the shadow of nuclear proliferation looms heavier than ever, threatening to destabilize the region further.

The escalation underscores the urgency for global actors to reassess their strategies in addressing Iran's nuclear advancements. The implications of such developments extend beyond regional stability, posing a broader threat to international security. Diplomatic efforts have faltered repeatedly, leaving questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and negotiations in curbing Tehran's ambitions.

For Israel, today, this is an existential threat, as it could become for the United States, tomorrow.

Over the last 46 years, Iran has been at the epicenter of arming all of the terror proxies in the region, and was greatly responsible for the devastation wrought upon Israel on October 7, 2023, which included the massacre of over 1200 Israelis in a single day.

Make no doubt about it. Iran, ever since the days of the Islamic Revolution, has called Israel “the Little Satan” and America “The Great Satan”. They have been at work on intercontinental ballistic missiles to reach the United States. They have been at  the heart of sowing chaos within American society, funding lucrative think tanks and academic centers, with the intended goal of whitewashing Iran’s genocidal behavior. Iran has also sought the assassination of both current and former US officials, demonstrating that it is a threat not just to Israel, but to the safety and the security of every American.

The Endowment or Middle East Truth (EMET) stands proudly together with the state and with the people of Israel, today, as it does every day.  Last night, and in the coming days we’ll be seeing the Israeli Defense Forces carry out actions that we ultimately believe are the only way not just to curb Iranian nuclear ambitions, but to diminish its regional role and to extinguish the imminent threat it poses on the entire Middle East. In doing so, Israel is acting not only in its own interest, but of that of the entire region and of the free world. We thank them for this.

Says Sarah Stern, Founder and President of EMET, “As I sit here in Israel, huddled in my safe room with family members, I continue to be overwhelmingly proud that of the tenacity, resilience and determination of the people of Israel, of the reserve soldiers and their families,  and members of the Israeli Defense Forces. We have come home to stay, not to be eliminated by yet another genocidal, antisemitic force. The people of Israel have returned home and have re-established their state here for the very purpose of ensuring that action will be taken to eliminate any threat that might arise and put our nation and our people’s existence in jeopardy. We know we might be in for long and difficult days, but are willing to make the sacrifice. These preemptive strikes, which have just begun, are the true embodiment of “Le’Olam lo od”, “Never again”.

Sarah N. Stern is Founder and President of EMET and Elad Israeli is EMET’s Legislative Director.