Israel considers pre-emptive strike on Iranian sites

Israel hinted at possible military action to stop what it calls a nightmare scenario -- nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran -- but for now is waiting for US diplomatic pressure and closer international scrutiny to do the job.

On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is investigating suspicions of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons program, demanded full disclosure from Tehran, including acceptance of snap inspections.

Iran its nuclear programs are only for generating electricity as oil supplies dwindle. It also has said its equipment was "contaminated" with enriched uranium by a previous owner.

But Israel estimates Iran is just two to three years away from having nuclear weapons.

An Israeli government official said Iran does not yet have the right amount of enriched uranium, as well as some other chemicals, needed to build a nuclear bomb, but it has the "know-how" and the ability to develop the materials. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

The delivery method -- the long-range Shahab-3 missile -- was successfully tested in July, and experts said Iran is to begin serial production within two years.

If diplomacy fails, Israel, which is about 965km to the west of Iran, has made clear a military operation is feasible.

Israeli officials said Iran's nuclear program is a focus of the army's five-year strategic plan, and Sharon has ordered the Mossad spy service to keep a close eye on the developments in Tehran.

"Any Iranian regime knows of course that Israel has the capability, the wherewithal, to deal with a military threat," said Zalman Shoval, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "Hopefully, a military threat can be avoided, nipped in the bud ... before it begins and this is where the United States comes in."

Israel never confirmed being a nuclear power, but it is widely believed to have nuclear weapons.

In 1981, a fleet of Israeli warplanes flew some 740km over Middle Eastern deserts and mountains to Baghdad -- sticking close to the ground throughout the flight to avoid being picked up by radars.

The warplanes let loose a string of bombs, knocking out Baghdad's nuclear reactors and halting Saddam Hussein's progress in obtaining nuclear weapons.

At the time, the operation was internationally condemned, even by Israel's staunchest ally, the US.

However, the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the US have changed the rules.

US have overthrown regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, both on Iran's borders, in less than two years. Tehran is aware that as a member of US President George W. Bush's "axis of evil" it could be next in line.

"Iran must cooperate fully. Iran has pledged not to develop nuclear weapons and the entire international community must hold that regime to its commitments," Bush recently said.

Iran believes the attack could come from the US or Israel and announced it was increasing its defense spending this year.

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