International Atomic Energy Agency

• Iran’s attack involved around 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles, all directed against Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
• But various options have been canvassed, including a strike of some sort against Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.
• It has assassinated a number of nuclear scientists over the years, and launched a number of attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities.
• Believed to have been created through collaboration between US and Israeli intelligence, the Stuxnet malware was designed to severely disrupt centrifuge operations at Natanz and is thought to have set back Iran’s nuclear weapons programme by years.

Iran’s nuclear weapons history

• The country developed a civil nuclear programme under the late Shah, and in 1970 ratified the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, committing the country not to possess nor develop nuclear weapons.
• During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Iran pursued a secret nuclear weapons development project, known as the Amad Plan.

• But it is thought that by then, Iran had the capacility to build a small and fairly crude nuclear device.
• A great deal of what we know about the development of Iran’s nuclear weapons programme stems from the 2018 Mossad raid.
• This revealed that work on weapons development was not entirely halted, and that Iran continued to work on improving its nuclear weapons capability.
• It has resumed operations at nuclear facilities previously prohibited under the terms of the agreement and, since February 2021, has prevented the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from effectively monitoring its nuclear sites.

Can an Iranian ‘bomb’ be prevented?

• First, Iran possesses the requisite expertise to develop nuclear weapons, which cannot be eradicated through bombing raids.
• While targeting Iranian facilities would temporarily hinder the programme, any setbacks would likely be short-lived.
• Destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz would be essential, but accessing these facilities would necessitate a significant number of airstrikes penetrating deep into Iranian territory, while circumventing or overpowering its air defence systems.

Christoph Bluth does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Ambassador to Russia and distinguished research and development staff member in the Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as its Director for Regulatory Affairs.
• “The United States has shown a strong interest in finding safe, domestic energy solutions,” said Randall L. Beatty, Ph.D., Director for Regulatory Affairs for LIS Technologies Inc. “Nuclear energy presents a promising option to meet this demand.
• Figure 1 - LIS Technologies Inc. Appoints Randall L. Beatty, Ph.D., as its Director for Regulatory Affairs.
• He was also a senior diplomatic officer in Moscow Russia and the Deputy Executive Director for the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).

• The organization was established 48 years ago and the 2023 results represent a record in new commitments.
• OPEC Fund Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: "In 2023, the OPEC Fund increased its impact through the delivery of development support in a challenging global environment.
• We were also able to leverage our partnerships to mobilize development support by working with multilateral development banks and development finance institutions such as the Arab Coordination Group.
• The issuance of the OPEC Fund's benchmark SDG bond raised US$1 billion for sustainable development projects.

• The Belgium House is an initiative from European Business Summits and a group of leading Belgian companies, with the support of the Belgian federal government, to showcase Belgian technology and innovation.
• Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is hosting three flagship events at the Belgium House encapsulating Belgium's commitment to drive progress for all by embracing openness , innovation and global partnerships.
• On Tuesday, Belgium demonstrated its green transition leadership during the "Clean Tech Innovation on the Road to Net Zero" discussion.
• "Davos is the perfect forum to invite others to join us in uncovering sustainable and innovative solutions for global challenges."