By SCM REPORTER JERUSALEM
ISRAEL’S Defense Minister has issued a blunt “hand it over” ultimatum to Tehran: surrender your enriched uranium or the war continues.
In a high-stakes move coordinated with Washington, Israel Katz declared today that the total removal of Iran’s nuclear stockpile is now the “key condition” for any ceasefire.
Speaking from his office as the conflict enters a critical phase, Mr. Katz revealed that the objective has been “jointly defined with the US.” He warned that while previous strikes have crippled Tehran’s ability to build a bomb, the remaining enriched material is a “ticking time bomb” that must be removed from Iranian soil.
”The United States and Israel have defined removing this material from Iran as a precondition for ending the campaign,” Katz said in a video statement. “What remains is the issue of the enriched material, which could serve as a basis for an attempt to restart the project.”
The demand follows a series of devastating joint operations, including last year’s 12-day “Midnight Hammer” conflict in June 2025, which pulverized much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
But with a fragile ceasefire currently being tested and the Strait of Hormuz remaining a global flashpoint, the Allies are refusing to “finish the job” until the uranium is gone.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth backed the hardline stance, warning that the West is prepared to “take it” if the Ayatollahs refuse to cough it up.
”They’ll give it to us voluntarily, or we’ll get it,” Hegseth warned. “We’ll take it out… by any means necessary.”
The current war, which exploded on February 28, 2026, has already seen the US and Israel launch massive strikes against Iranian leadership and missile sites.
While Tehran insists its nuclear program is for “civilian purposes,” Jerusalem and Washington fear the regime is months away from a “breakout” capacity.
With global oil prices soaring and UK bases in Cyprus and the Middle East on high alert, the pressure is now on Tehran to meet the “jointly defined” demands or face a fresh wave of “energy plant destruction.”
The Conflict: A joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran commenced on February 28, 2026, following years of escalating tensions and the failure of international diplomacy to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Previous Operations: In June 2025, a 12-day air campaign (dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer”) significantly degraded Iran’s air defenses and known nuclear facilities.
The 2026 Surge: The current phase of the war involves high-risk strikes aimed at regime change and the total incapacitation of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.
The Uranium Issue: While production facilities have been damaged, Iran still holds a significant stockpile of uranium enriched to high levels (60%+), which can be quickly converted to weapons-grade material. The US and Israel now view the physical removal of this material as the only guarantee against a future Iranian nuclear weapon.
Global Impact: The war has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, causing a global energy crisis and drawing in UK military assets for defensive operations in the Gulf.
