Consider Nitro Zeus. The plan provided President Barack Obama with a nonlethal means to neutralize Iranian military assets in case negotiations to halt the country’s rogue nuclear enrichment program failed and Tehran sought to retaliate. Since Nitro Zeus was ultimately shelved, it is difficult to assess the scope and likelihood of the collateral damage it could have caused. The program destroyed nearly one-fifth of Iran’s operating centrifuges and may have slowed its nuclear program by up to two years. It may have even deterred Israel from launching a conventional attack on Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site.

Source: International New York Times August 22, 2021 19:30 UTC