However, Escobar claims that the Russian Air Force foiled the plot by shooting down the Israeli jet as it departed Jordanian territory. Despite professional criticism and skepticism, Escobar maintains the authenticity of his statements, implying that the people involved deliberately opted not to divulge this knowledge to avoid further escalation into a potential world conflict.
.
Scott Ritter, a former United Nations weapons inspector, has disputed Escobar's claim. Ritter emphasizes the technological constraints and implausibility of an Israeli F-35 carrying a nuclear bomb and launching an EMP assault on Iran. He claims that the F-35's interior weapons compartment would limit the size of any prospective weapon and that Israel lacks the required ASAT-type weapon for such an operation. Furthermore, Ritter claims that even if Israel acquired such a weapon, the output would be insufficient to do serious harm outside a narrow zone. Finally, Ritter dismisses Escobar's allegations as ludicrous and technically impossible.
Escobar's information about a high-altitude nuclear detonation would have far-reaching consequences. Aside from the immediate impacts of an EMP strike on Iran's infrastructure, which includes power grids and electronic gadgets, such an event may disrupt global communication networks, destroy satellites, and pose health hazards due to radiation exposure. Furthermore, the strategic and psychological implications of such a display of military might could exacerbate tensions and have far-reaching ramifications. However, given the possible worldwide repercussions and technological obstacles, others remain skeptical of Escobar's assertions, speculating that they result from an intentional disinformation campaign or an incorrect interpretation of intelligence.
The blast's aftermath would also affect neighboring nations, posing environmental and health threats to their populations. Overall, the risk of such an incident highlights such an attack is unlikely and no nation would like nonhostile nations to become hostile as a result of such an attack, affecting them.