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October 24, 2024 | 11:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The conflict between Iran and Israel has been going on for years, with tensions continuing to escalate in various aspects, especially in terms of military power.
A key dimension that is often highlighted in this rivalry is nuclear weapons, which affect the balance of power in the Middle East region. Among these two countries, Israel is known to possess nuclear capabilities, while Iran is still limited in its development of nuclear weapons due to various international agreements.
Although Israel has never officially acknowledged its possession of nuclear weapons, reports from various international organizations indicate that Israel possesses nuclear warheads. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) 2023 report, Israel is estimated to have 90 nuclear warheads. These warheads are stored and ready for use if needed, although further details about Israel's nuclear program remain mostly classified.
Israel has been developing its nuclear program in secret since the 1960s and is now one of the countries with undeclared nuclear capabilities. In terms of defense, Israel is also supported by modern military technology, such as the Iron Dome and Arrow 3 air defense systems, which are designed to protect the country from missile attacks, including potential nuclear threats. These systems are part of Israel's defense against long-range missile attacks that might be launched by Iran or its allies.
Unlike Israel, Iran does not yet have nuclear weapons. According to a report by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Iran is unable to produce nuclear weapons because of limits on its uranium enrichment capacity imposed on its nuclear program. Under international agreements such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran is restricted in the development of its nuclear technology, particularly concerning uranium enrichment, which is necessary to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran's nuclear program has long been a concern of the international community, with many Western countries accusing Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons in secret. However, Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, including energy production and scientific research. International pressure and economic sanctions have prevented Iran from accelerating the development of its nuclear technology, although Iran has the technical capacity to develop nuclear weapons if these restrictions are lifted.
In addition, the DIA report mentions that the Iranian military still faces restrictions on access to modern weapons due to international embargoes and sanctions imposed over the years. Some of Iran's military equipment, including fighter jets and tanks, have been in service since before the 1979 Iranian Revolution and have not undergone significant modernization.
In addition to the differences in nuclear weapons, the overall comparison of military power between Iran and Israel also reveals significant differences. Based on available data, Iran has a much larger active-duty force of 610,000 soldiers compared to Israel's 169,500 soldiers. In addition, Iran has 1,050,000 reservists, while Israel has 465,000 reservists. In terms of number of tanks, Israel has 2,200 tanks, slightly more than Iran's 1,900 tanks.
However, Israel has a significant advantage in the military budget. Based on 2022 data, Israel allocated $23.4 billion for defense spending, while Iran allocated only $6.8 billion, or about 30 percent of Israel's total defense budget. The difference in budget allocation also affects Israel's ability to develop and modernize its military equipment, including its nuclear capabilities.
MYESHA FATINA RACHMAN | DATA TEMPO | FAISAL JAVIER
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