Former CIA official Larry Johnson stated that Israel’s attack on Iran was conducted with the full knowledge and participation of the US, dismissing Washington’s claims of ignorance as “nonsense.” Johnson added that reports suggesting Israel had achieved a major success were not reflective of reality.

Speaking at an online panel organized by the Schiller Institute titled We Must Reject the Path to Nuclear War, Johnson noted that reports claiming Iran’s air defense systems had failed and that Israel had secured a major victory were inaccurate.

Johnson compared the situation to Ukraine’s attacks on Russia, where initial reports suggested significant damage, only for it to be later understood that the impact was limited. “So it wasn’t as bad as it initially appeared,” he remarked.

‘Trump celebrates the deaths of Iranian officials’

Emphasizing that the attack was carried out with the full knowledge and involvement of the US, Johnson pointed to Donald Trump’s statements to the New York Post. Johnson quoted Trump as saying, “I knew Israel was going to attack. I knew everything.” He also noted that Trump celebrated the outcome, stating, “Most of the Iranian government officials we’ve been dealing with recently are now dead.”

Johnson criticized US statements denying awareness of the attack, saying, “America is playing this game right now: ‘We knew nothing about this.’ Trump did the same thing to Putin. This is nonsense.”

‘Israel used ceasefire talks for an ambush’

Johnson made a shocking accusation, claiming that Israel is an unreliable actor that exploits negotiations. “Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” Johnson stated. “He was meeting with other senior Hezbollah members to discuss a ceasefire proposal. And they used this ceasefire proposal to ambush them. There is a pattern of behavior emerging here. Israel cannot be trusted in any kind of negotiation. Nor can the US.”

‘US sent a message that it can hit anyone, anywhere’

Johnson noted that the conflict is ongoing, with missiles being fired and at least ten different cities and nuclear facilities targeted. He added that the media is failing to report on the underground nuclear and missile facilities.

Johnson argued that with this attack, the US has sent a message to the world. “America has now established a successful principle: ‘We can hit anyone, anywhere, with everything we have.’ This principle and message have been sent,” he said.

He concluded, “This situation will continue, especially if the Arab and Muslim world does not come together to confront this and begin to draw up a strategy.”

Former diplomat warns forcing Iran out of the NPT is the greatest danger

According to former Indian diplomat M.K. Bhadrakumar, the tension between Iran and Israel stems not from the possibility of Tehran developing nuclear weapons, but from Israel’s ambition to preserve its regional dominance.

Drawing on his 30-year diplomatic career involving close contact with Iran, Bhadrakumar expressed that his greatest fear is the prospect of Iran being pressured into withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

‘The real issue is Israel’s regional dominance’

Speaking at an online panel organized by the Schiller Institute titled We Must Reject the Path to Nuclear War, Bhadrakumar asserted that he does not believe the current situation originates from Iran’s nuclear program. “This is the core of the problem. I have never believed that Iran is creating nuclear weapons. So, where does that leave us today? It’s all about Israel’s security. Israel is a major global military power. It is the world’s foremost military state, a position secured through the unified support of the US and European governments,” he assessed.

Emphasizing that Iran is a signatory to the NPT and remains open to international inspections, Bhadrakumar stressed the geopolitical nature of the conflict. “The problem is geopolitical, as it enables Israel’s continuous domination of the Middle East. In my view, this carries a grave responsibility for the current crisis,” he stated.

‘Forcing Iran to exit the NPT is the greatest danger’

Drawing attention to the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Bhadrakumar noted that Iran had significantly limited its nuclear program and allowed for comprehensive inspections under this agreement.

“My great fear is that Iran might take a step to leave the NPT. This is my biggest concern,” Bhadrakumar said.

Reflecting on his three decades of engagement with Iran’s political elite, Bhadrakumar remarked, “I see very little chance that Iran will relinquish its rights concerning its nuclear capabilities. This unfortunate position has been reaffirmed even in recent days.”

‘Regional movements are not Iran’s invention’

Bhadrakumar contended that movements such as Hamas and Hezbollah were not created by Iran but are natural outcomes of the region’s unresolved problems, especially the Palestinian issue. He explained, “Hamas, Hezbollah, and others are all manifestations of the circumstances and inherent rights within the region. Paradoxically, Iran is in a position to influence these groups toward moderation and must be included as a party to any potential comprehensive solution.”

‘There is still hope for diplomacy’

Despite the challenging circumstances, Bhadrakumar expressed his belief that a path for diplomacy still exists, highlighting Russia’s influence in the region. The former diplomat dismissed the notion of a rigid anti-Western bloc comprising Russia, China, and Iran, asserting that these nations each preserve their strategic autonomy.

Bhadrakumar assessed, “Russia holds significant influence in Iran. These countries follow their own paths and cherish their strategic autonomy, which is why I don’t subscribe to the idea of a rigid bloc. At the same time, however, there is a certain unity between Russia and Iran.”

Finally, Bhadrakumar recalled that Russia had previously proposed a consortium that involved storing Iran’s surplus enriched uranium on its territory, adding that such solutions might still be possible.

NATO is transitioning to its own satellite surveillance systems, considering potential issues in cooperation with the US, which has traditionally played a central role in the alliance’s intelligence gathering.

Speaking to Bloomberg, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne, stated that the new system will, for the first time, allow the alliance to monitor “vast territories” such as the Russian borders, the war in Ukraine, and the Arctic.

For the initiative, named SINBAD (Smart Indicators and Warnings for Wide Area Detection), NATO has partnered with the US satellite imagery provider Planet Labs. The company will scan specific regions worldwide throughout the year to obtain high-frequency images, and artificial intelligence will be used to detect any changes and generate alerts.

General Lavigne mentioned that the new satellite surveillance capabilities will meet both current mission requirements and potential needs that could arise from a peace agreement in Ukraine.

“Today, we are not sure that the Russians will stop in Ukraine,” Lavigne said, emphasizing the importance of providing timely intelligence to Eastern European countries. He added, “We will be able to tell them: ‘We are watching you.'”

According to officials, if a peace agreement is reached, satellite intelligence will help NATO countries monitor the implementation of the ceasefire. This monitoring is seen as a crucial part of the guarantees Kyiv would need to receive from countries within a “coalition of the willing” planning a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

An alliance official noted that SINBAD is a pilot project preceding a larger-scale space intelligence deployment planned for January 2026. Another alliance representative added that the technology could also be used to monitor the Arctic, which is becoming increasingly important for NATO due to the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.