Israeli envoy to US says Iran's ability to produce ballistic weapons must also be eliminated

[Pyrite]

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-06-18-25-intl-hnk

Israel’s ambassador to the US said Wednesday that Israel must eliminate not only Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons, but also its ability to produce ballistic missiles.

“They come cruising out of the sky and create incredible damage,” Yechiel Leiter told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, referring to Iran’s missiles. “That production capacity has to be eliminated as well.”

“They cannot have the weapons that can destroy Israel, which they claim and which they want to do every day,” he added.

Asked about Israel’s ability to destroy Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment site, buried deep under a mountain near the city of Qom, Leiter said “it might require multiple strikes, it might require something else or it might require one of our surprises,” without going into details.

“We have a few tricks up our sleeves,” he said, when asked about Israel’s response if the US were not to get involved in the conflict.

“If we have to pursue this and prosecute this by ourselves, we’re going to know what to do. We’re not going to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he told Collins.

 

[Pyrite]

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-conflict-06-18-25-intl-hnk

Israel’s ambassador to the US said Wednesday that Israel must eliminate not only Iran’s ability to make nuclear weapons, but also its ability to produce ballistic missiles.

“They come cruising out of the sky and create incredible damage,” Yechiel Leiter told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, referring to Iran’s missiles. “That production capacity has to be eliminated as well.”

“They cannot have the weapons that can destroy Israel, which they claim and which they want to do every day,” he added.

Asked about Israel’s ability to destroy Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment site, buried deep under a mountain near the city of Qom, Leiter said “it might require multiple strikes, it might require something else or it might require one of our surprises,” without going into details.

“We have a few tricks up our sleeves,” he said, when asked about Israel’s response if the US were not to get involved in the conflict.

“If we have to pursue this and prosecute this by ourselves, we’re going to know what to do. We’re not going to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he told Collins.

Israel has very recently added eliminating Iran's ballistic missile capabilities to the original "We must get rid of Iran's nukes!" reason for attacking Iran.

This could be the reason for the Israeli Government's moving its goalpost:

Israel running low on Arrow interceptors, US burning through its systems too – WSJ

US official says Israel could have to start rationing air defenses by later this week, and 'the system is already overwhelmed'; Israel has given no indication of shortage

www.timesofisrael.com

Israel running low on Arrow interceptors, US burning through its systems too – WSJ

US official says Israel could have to start rationing air defenses by later this week, and ‘the system is already overwhelmed’; Israel has given no indication of shortage

Israel is running low on defensive “Arrow” missile interceptors, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed US official.

The shortage has raised concerns about the country’s ability to continue to counter long-range ballistic missiles from Iran, the report said.

Since Israel launched its shock operation on Friday to remove the “existential threat” of the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, the Islamic Republic has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel.

So far, 24 people have been killed in Israel and more than 500 wounded.

According to the Journal report, the US has known about the shortage of Arrow interceptors for months, and has been working to bolster Israel’s air defenses accordingly.

But those stocks are limited, too. Having dispatched many to Israel, “there is now concern about the US burning through interceptors as well,” the newspaper said.

A report in The Washington Post Tuesday cited a person briefed on US and Israeli intelligence, who said that, according to “some assessments,” Israel can maintain its air defense for 10-12 days at the current rate of Iranian attacks — which have lessened since the start of the fighting last week — before it will require the US to replenish its stocks or get more involved in the war.

The source also said that already by later this week, Israel “will need to select what they want to intercept,” adding: “The system is already overwhelmed.”...

 

[Pyrite]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/06/17/israel-iran-missile-conflict/

Israel-Iran conflict may last only as long as their missiles hold out

The intensity of Iran’s barrages seems to be waning as it uses up its stock. Israel, meantime, is running through its supply of expensive missile interceptors.

...Tal Inbar, an Israeli missile expert affiliated with the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance in Virginia, noted that in 2014, Israel sought a ceasefire with Hamas days before it ran out of air defense interceptors. The level of interceptor stocks is a highly sensitive subject in Israel, but “it could be a factor in a ceasefire” this time as well, Inbar said.

Israel employs a multilayered air defense system, consisting of its famous Iron Dome, which intercepts lower-altitude rockets; the David’s Sling and Arrow systems; and expensive Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems delivered from the United States.

Inbar said a problem for Israel is that it largely relies on the relatively expensive Arrow system, which fires missiles that cost $3 million each, to counter attacks from Iran. While inexpensive and mass-produced Iron Dome interceptors are useful against rudimentary rockets fired by Hamas, the Iron Dome is as ineffective as “shooting a 9-millimeter pistol” at heavy Iranian missiles that hurtle through the outer atmosphere at several times the speed of sound, Inbar said....

 

[Loulit01]

I thought Israel had an "Iron Dome." So much for that bullshit. And Trump wants to put a "Golden Dome" over the U.S. and parts of Canada? Please. Just a direct transfer of funds from taxpayers to defense contractors.

 

[Apocalypse]

Israel has very recently added eliminating Iran's ballistic missile capabilities to the original "We must get rid of Iran's nukes!" reason for attacking Iran.

Stop lying.
It was a goal of the war from the start and Netanyahu declared it in his first message on the war.
Also in the source you use:

Since Israel launched its shock operation on Friday to remove the “existential threat” of the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, the Islamic Republic has retaliated by launching more than 370 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel.

 

[Apocalypse]

I thought Israel had an "Iron Dome." So much for that bullshit. And Trump wants to put a "Golden Dome" over the U.S. and parts of Canada? Please. Just a direct transfer of funds from taxpayers to defense contractors.

Arrow systems are against ballistic missiles although Iron Dome can be used for that as well.
They saved countless of lives so far but they don't have 100% success and nothing does.
That being said the claim that Israel has a shortage of intercepting missiles was dismissed by Israeli sources.
It's rather Iran that cannot continue targeting civilians with ballistic missiles for long as Israel keeps destroying its launchers.

 

[Loulit01]

Israel shot at Iran first, as I understand it. Iran shoots back and their ballistic missile program needs to be eliminated.

Netanyahu ran out of Palestinians to kill.

 

[Apocalypse]

Israel shot at Iran first, as I understand it. Iran shoots back and their ballistic missile program needs to be eliminated.

Netanyahu ran out of Palestinians to kill.

Iran shot at Israel back in October. And in April before that. And it's been attacking Israel, the US, Europe, Arab countries, almost all of the planet for decades through its terror proxies.

Your support for a regime that murders women for showing their hair is admirable.

 

[Loulit01]

Iran shot at Israel back in October.

No, it did not.

And in April before that.

In response to an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

And it's been attacking Israel, the US, Europe, Arab countries, almost all of the planet for decades through its terror proxies.

Your support for a regime that murders women for showing their hair is admirable.

I don't support Iran. I also don't support Netanyahu and his criminal regime. Just as I don't support TACO and his MAGA minions. Doesn't mean I'm anti-Israel or anti-United States.

 

[Apocalypse]

No, it did not.

October 2024 Iranian strikes on Israel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In response to an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Israel targeted IRGC terrorist that was behind attacks against it.

I don't support Iran.

You're trying to present it as if Iran is not the aggressor. Am I wrong in assuming so?

I also don't support Netanyahu and his criminal regime. Just as I don't support TACO and his MAGA minions. Doesn't mean I'm anti-Israel or anti-United States.

I don't support Netanyahu either, for different reasons.
I do state clearly that Iran is the aggressor and that defense against it is necessary and justified.

 

[Sweden]

Israel shot at Iran first, as I understand it. Iran shoots back and their ballistic missile program needs to be eliminated.

Netanyahu ran out of Palestinians to kill.

Iran has been shooting missiles at Israel for years, mostly from Lebanon and Yemen. The 'Israel shot first' idea is simply incorrect.

 

[oneworld2]

Iran shot at Israel back in October. And in April before that. And it's been attacking Israel, the US, Europe, Arab countries, almost all of the planet for decades through its terror proxies.

Your support for a regime that murders women for showing their hair is admirable.

Stop lying by omission.

You know full well the first strike on the sovereign territory of either state was made when Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Syria that caused the first Iranian response.

Then the rogue state attacked and killed the Hamas leader in Iran which led to the second response from Iran

 

[Apocalypse]

Stop lying by omission.

You know full well the first strike on the sovereign territory of either state was made when Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Lebanon that caused the first Iranian response.

Then the rogue state attacked and killed the Hamas leader in Iran which led to the second response from Iran

Iran is attacking Israel for decades now, doing it by its proxies that it arms, trains and orders to attack is not changing much.

 

[oneworld2]

Iran is attacking Israel for decades now, doing it by its proxies that it arms, trains and orders to attack is not changing much.

Avoiding the citations I gave is still lying by omission.

Your country attacked Iran first, that's just the truth of the matter.

Your country has been killing people in Iran for decades too.

Their arming and training of Hamas and Hezbollah resistance fighters is no different from the West training and arming Ukrainians, who are also fighting off illegal occupiers and land grabbers.

Your state was one of the most prevalent arms suppliers to apartheid South Africa too when those weapons were used to murder black people fighting a racist regime that was, at the time, under an international arms trade embargo.

Your country is a massive rogue state that pathetically claims victimhood in order to deflect from its own ugly and racist crime record.

You refuse to see it but others see it clearly

 

[Apocalypse]

Avoiding the citations I gave is still lying by omission.

Your country attacked Iran first, that's just the truth of the matter.

Your country has been killing people in Iran for decades too.

Their arming and training of Hamas and Hezbollah resistance fighters is no different from the West training and arming Ukrainians, who are also fighting off illegal occupiers and land grabbers.

Your state was one of the most prevalent arms suppliers to apartheid South Africa too when those weapons were used to murder black people fighting a racist regime that was, at the time, under an international arms trade embargo.

Your country is a massive rogue state that pathetically claims victimhood in order to deflect from its own ugly and racist crime record.

You refuse to see it but others see it clearly

Israel targeting Iranians or Hamas terrorists in Iran plotting against its citizens after Iran is attacking Israelis, Americans, Arabs, Europeans, etc. through proxy for decades isn't the act of aggression you wish to pretend it to be.

 

[oneworld2]

Israel targeting Iranians or Hamas terrorists in Iran plotting against its citizens after Iran is attacking Israelis, Americans, Arabs, Europeans, etc. through proxy for decades isn't the act of aggression you wish to pretend it to be.

Their plotting is no different from your plotting because they have the same rights under the law as you do only your state is attacking and committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against more people than they are.

You are the aggressors in the region not Iran, not Palestine, Egypt , Syria etc etc you have just been brainwashed into seeing the world turned upside down

 

[Apocalypse]

Their plotting is no different from your plotting because they have the same rights under the law as you do only your state is attacking and committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against more people than they are.

You are the aggressors in the region not Iran, not Palestine, Egypt , Syria etc etc you have just been brainwashed into seeing the world turned upside down

Israel is defending itself, they are aggressors trying to destroy a nation because they hate Jews, big difference between these types of 'plotting'.

 

[oneworld2]

Israel is defending itself,

No it's not, it is expanding its borders with acts of aggression in a bid to take swathes of land from many states in the region

they are aggressors trying to destroy a nation because they hate Jews,

Wrong, they are the ones trying to stop the illegal occupations and annexations they have to suffer . That's why they hate Israelis and you can't blame them for doing so in the same way you can understand why many Europeans and Jews of 1930s Europe hated Germans

big difference between these types of 'plotting'.

Not at all, when the correct context is added it's obvious who the aggressors are and it's clearly the Israeli state

 

[Apocalypse]

No it's not, it is expanding its borders with acts of aggression in a bid to take swathes of land from many states in the region



Wrong, they are the ones trying to stop the illegal occupations and annexations they have to suffer . That's why they hate Israelis and you can't blame them for doing so in the same way you can understand why many Europeans and Jews of 1930s Europe hated Germans



Not at all, when the correct context is added it's obvious who the aggressors are and it's clearly the Israeli state

When a nation is trying to destroy another and that nation reacts, it is defending itself. Iran wants to destroy Israel, Israel defends itself. I'm sorry it's impossible to understand from the position of a person who supports such a regime that murders women for showing their hair.

 

[oneworld2]

When a nation is trying to destroy another and that nation reacts, it is defending itself.

Which is what the Palestinians are doing and the reason why they have so much support in the region, including from Iran. You get it, just the wrong way around because you are the victim of a state indocrination

Iran wants to destroy Israel, Israel defends itself.

Nope, it supports those illegally violated by the Israeli state as set out in the above., which you yourself agree with.

I'm sorry it's impossible to understand from the position of a person who supports such a regime that murders women for showing their hair.

It matters not what different cultural values customs a state may or may not have, it's the question of what the laws governing state actions say

 

[Craig234]

The US could have regional peace by saying the rogue state will disarm all offensive capability in its 1967 borders, keeping its missile defense systems, and the US will provide full security if they are attacked - post permanent US military bases there paid for by them. No offensive actions will be allowed by or against the rogue state. Palestine can receive the same.