On the 21st of May, Pepe Escobar released a bombshell report on what his sources claimed was an attempt to detonate a nuclear device over Iran.

If true this action would have certainly thrown the world into WWIII.

PEPE Escobar post on X platform

EXCLUSIVE

From a confidential source of high intelligence calibre based in Asia, not Russia-China, although strategic partnerships undoubtedly maintain continuous exchanges at the highest echelons.

Thoroughly corroborated and re-verified.

One can only speculate on Sy Hersh’s insights from his Beltway informants.

Here’s the revelation:

Israel initially opted for an aggressive retaliation strategy.

Dispatched was an F-35 carrying a nuclear payload, heading eastward over Jordan.

Objective: execute a high-altitude detonation over Iran, triggering a surge in power lines, thereby incapacitating Iran’s electrical grid and rendering electronic devices inert.

An Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) assault.

However…

… As the Israeli F-35 traversed Jordanian airspace, it met its demise at the hands of the Russian Air Force.

Thus, the publicized rendition of Israel’s counteraction was a gross misrepresentation.

Ultimately, all stakeholders agreed to withhold the true account from the public – a move aimed at de-escalating what could have spiralled into World War III.

Scott Ritter a well-known and respected Military analyst commented on Pepe’s post

Regarding Pepe Escobar’s discourse concerning an Israeli F-35 carrying a nuclear weapon/EMP over Iran:

Why deploy an F-35?

For stealth?

Yet, this confines the armament to the aircraft’s internal bay.

Now, we’re discussing an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapon – a missile launched from an aircraft capable of reaching outer space.

Israel lacks such weaponry.

And even if it did, it wouldn’t fit within the F-35’s internal bay.

Now, supposing Israel developed an ASAT-type weapon compact enough for the F-35’s bay, or – hypothetically – opted to forgo stealth and externally mount the missile, akin to the Russian Kinzhal/Mig-31 pairing.

What warhead capacity could it accommodate?

The AIR-2 Genie air-to-air missile featured a 1.5-kiloton warhead.

Why does this matter?

Most Cold War EMP scenarios envisioned yields ranging from 1 to 10 megatons.

A warhead deliverable into space from an F-35 would be minuscule.

Without delving into nuclear weapon physics/gamma-ray potential, any practical warhead fitting an F-35-deliverable missile into space would be of negligible yield.

Consequently, the affected territory by the resulting EMP would be minimal.

Thus, the scenario posited by Pepe Escobar’s source is excessively risk-averse, with negligible impact, even if feasible, which it isn’t.

Pepe responded a day later with more confirmation from his sources

I now possess TWO independent, definitive confirmations from TWO ultra-high-level intelligence sources hailing from TWO distinct Asian nations. Working on securing a third – or at least partial corroboration.

Having resided in Asia for three decades, I’ve cultivated an unparalleled network. I unequivocally trust my top sources.

The original source, which prompted my initial post, reaffirmed their stance. Their words:

“I’m genuinely taken aback by people’s surprise. Do they truly believe such events would unfold before their TV screens? It’s as though history has imparted no lessons.”

Embarking on a preliminary column – likely releasing tomorrow.

Gratitude to all who provided insightful, discerning commentary and critique. This endeavour should be a collective pursuit toward unraveling the events: their essence, rather than the specifics as leaked.

My thoughts are that I have always believed that if a nuclear weapon is to be detonated the Israelis are the ones to do it. The genocide in Gaza demonstrated a lack of empathy towards anyone who is not a Zionist. Hence no fear of committing mass murder on a nuclear scale as long as it furthers the Zionist agenda.

I am confident that Pepe accurately reports what his source conveyed. However, I harbour reservations about the source’s reliability. I’m uncertain if the source genuinely believes this narrative or was tasked with circulating it as a story.

I identify a significant flaw in the source’s account:

… As the Israeli F-35 was leaving Jordanian airspace it was shot down by the Russian Air Force.

An F-35 departing Jordanian airspace would enter Syrian or Iraqi airspace, both under U.S. jurisdiction. My understanding is that following Russia’s intervention in Syria in September 2015, the U.S. AFCENT Commander, stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, initiated daily communications with their Russian counterpart in Syria to deconflict U.S. and Russian air operations. All are coordinated via the CAOC, aka Combined Air Operations Center.

This arrangement persists despite tensions in Ukraine. Russia remains west of the Euphrates River, while the U.S. operates eastward. If Russia executed what Pepe’s source claims, it would breach airspace controlled by the United States. It’s highly improbable that Russia could track the solitary Israeli F-35 and intercept it within the territory under U.S. air control.

Of course, we must entertain the prospect of U.S.-Russian collaboration to down the Israeli aircraft, but I find it improbable.

UPDATE — A couple of astute individuals rightfully pointed out a crucial oversight. If Russia downed an F-35 carrying a nuke, it implies a live nuclear device on Iraqi or Syrian soil. Israel and/or the U.S. would hasten to retrieve the weapon. Yet, we see no evidence of such retrieval efforts. This would entail substantial air assets, and I fail to see how Israel would operate in those Iraqi or Syrian regions.

That’s my perspective. Let the discourse commence.