[UPDATED] Israel-TT ambassador defends Iran strikes: We had no choice

ITAI Bardov, Israel's ambassador to Panama and non-resident ambassador to Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, TT, and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), has defended his country’s ongoing offensive military campaign against Iran.

Bardov hosted a virtual press conference on June 23, telling a small pocket of regional media that “Operation Rising Lion” was launched to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear weapons capability.

He claimed Tehran had amassed enough 60 per cent-enriched uranium for “nine nuclear bombs.”

“No country in the world that claims to have no nuclear weapons programme has 60 per cent uranium enrichment – only Iran,” he said.

However, based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessments as of early June, Iran had produced approximately 142.1 kilogrammes of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, enough for around three bombs if further enriched to weapons-grade. The agency noted no evidence of Iran weaponising this material. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is civilian.

Bardov described the operation as an existential necessity. “We found ourselves right now in the 11th hour without any other choice but to defend ourselves and to prevent Iran from reaching that threat of having a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“Even one would have been a huge, huge threat to the region, to Israel and to the rest of the world.”

Israel initiated the current conflict, beginning June 15. Israeli warplanes struck multiple Iranian military and government sites in Tehran, Isfahan and Fordow – before Iran retaliated with mass missile and drone attacks.

US forces joined June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure, a move condemned by regional governments. The IAEA later confirmed significant damage at Fordow, one of Iran’s most fortified enrichment facilities.

Iran’s missile counter-offensive has killed 24 Israelis, according to Israeli authorities. Iran’s health ministry reported 950 dead from Israeli and US airstrikes, many of whom were civilians.

Bardov repeatedly blamed Iran for regional instability. “Iran has been threatening, has been creating a programme destabilising the Middle East by sponsoring proxies. That was their strategy,” he said. “They invested tens of billions of dollars in these proxies — Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Houthis in Yemen, Shi’ite groups in Iraq.”

He alleged that Iran had been orchestrating a multi-front campaign against Israel, with proxies poised to launch simultaneous strikes.

“We know for a fact they had that plan. We found evidence,” he claimed. However, no independent verification of such a co-ordinated assault plan has been made public by Israeli authorities or international observers.

Bardov also acknowledged Hezbollah was not informed of the October 7 Hamas-led attack that precipitated Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. “What we think happened was that (Hamas leader Yahya) Sinwar initiated the attack on his own accord, without co-ordinating the exact timing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israel’s siege of Gaza has continued unabated. Palestinian health officials report more than 38,000 dead since October, including scores killed while seeking food at aid distribution points — a fact Bardov did not address.

In his presentation, Bardov insisted the scale of Iran’s missile capabilities necessitated pre-emptive action. “They were advancing their ballistic missile programme… with the intention of acquiring up to 10,000 ballistic missiles,” he said. “Just imagine 10,000 ballistic missiles — what capabilities and abilities they would have, even without a nuclear programme.”

Independent analysts, however, have long noted Iran’s missile inventory is largely conventional, though regional governments have voiced concern over the growing range and accuracy of its arsenal.

Bardov claimed Iran’s weapons programme was designed “to attack Israel simultaneously with hundreds of missiles, rockets, drones,” adding, “our defence systems would find it very challenging to defend Israel from these attacks.”

The press briefing came as Washington offered mixed signals on its intentions in Iran. President Donald Trump claimed the US seeks “stability, not regime change,” while Vice-President JD Vance hinted at possible future political shifts in Tehran.

Adding to the contradictions, Trump’s Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress on March 25 shortly after visiting Iran that Tehran was not advancing toward nuclear weapons. “Iran’s 60 per cent enrichment was deeply concerning but not indicative of an active weapons programme,” she said at the time. However, Gabbard later posted on X on June 21, saying her comments had been mischaracterised and that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon “within weeks to months” if it chose to.

Bardov cited longstanding Iranian rhetoric against Israel’s existence as a further justification for the campaign. “Even the Ayatollah, the Supreme Leader, said that Israel is a cancerous tumour that should certainly be eradicated and it will be,” he said, also referencing statements from IRGC leaders calling for Israel’s destruction.

Iran’s parliament is reportedly considering withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move that would formally dismantle international oversight of its nuclear programme.

Bardov claimed the operation had degraded Iran’s capabilities. “At least 50 per cent of the ballistic missile launchers have been taken out,” he said. “We also damaged significantly their capability of manufacturing ballistic missiles and launchers.” He added that Israel and the US had killed several senior IRGC and Quds Force leaders and “a long list of nuclear programme experts.”

Iran has also threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli officials have vowed further strikes.

Notably, Bardov said, “For 625 days now, 50 innocent human beings are still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza in the tunnels. Out of the 50, at least 20 are alive.”

He concluded by describing the campaign’s name, Operation Rising Lion, as drawn from scripture.

“It comes from the Bible, Numbers 23:24 — ‘Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion.’ And we are rising up to defend ourselves from an existential enemy,” he said.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

ITAI Bardov, Israel's ambassador to Panama and non-resident ambassador to Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, TT, and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), has defended his country’s ongoing offensive military campaign against Iran.

Bardov hosted a virtual press conference on June 23, telling regional media that “Operation Rising Lion” was launched to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear weapons capability. He claimed Tehran had amassed enough 60 per cent-enriched uranium for “nine nuclear bombs.

“No country in the world that claims to have no nuclear weapons program has 60 per cent uranium enrichment – only Iran,” he said.

However, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assessments as of early June, Iran had produced approximately 142.1 kilogrammes of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, enough for around three bombs if further enriched to weapons-grade.

The agency noted no evidence of Iran weaponising this material. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is civilian.

Israel initiated the current conflict, beginning June 15. Israeli warplanes struck multiple Iranian military and government sites in Tehran, Isfahan and Fordow – before Iran retaliated with mass missile and drone attacks.

US forces joined June 22, targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure, a move condemned by Russia and regional governments.

Iran’s missile counteroffensive has killed 24 Israelis, according to Israeli authorities. Iran’s health ministry reported 950 dead from Israeli and US airstrikes, many of those civilians.

Bardov also framed the operation as a blow against Iran’s regional proxies, blaming Tehran for backing groups like Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.

He alleged an Iranian-directed plan to launch a co-ordinated assault on Israel. Bardov acknowledged Hezbollah was not informed of the October 7 Hamas-led attack that precipitated Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel’s siege of Gaza has continued unabated.

Palestinian health officials report more than 38,000 dead since October, including scores killed while seeking food at aid distribution points, which Bardov did not address.

The press briefing came as Washington offered mixed signals on its intentions in Iran.

President Donald Trump has claimed the US seeks “stability, not regime change,” while Vice-President JD Vance hinted at possible future political shifts in Tehran.

Adding to the contradictions, Trump’s own Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress on March 25 shortly after visiting Iran that Tehran was not advancing toward nuclear weapons.

She said Iran’s 60 per cent enrichment was “deeply concerning” but not indicative of an active weapons programme.

However, Gabbard posted on X on June 21, saying her comments had been mischaracterised and that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon “within weeks to months” if it chose to.

Bardov insisted Israel had “no choice” but to act, citing Iranian rhetoric against Israel’s existence.

European-mediated nuclear talks stalled last week in Geneva.

Iran’s parliament is reportedly considering withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move that would formally dismantle international oversight.

Iran has also threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, and Israeli officials have vowed further strikes.