The possibility of an Israeli pre-emptive strike against Iran’s Nuclear Programme

19.02.2012

Israel has made it clear that it will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon that would threaten the Jewish State. What is still unclear is just how long it is prepared to wait.

Israeli and western intelligence suggests that Iran is already approaching the point of "invulnerability" where a military strike on its nuclear facilities would be ineffective.

Key elements of the programme – including uranium enrichment – have been moved to the underground facility near Qom where even a bunker busting bomb may not harm them. Israel knows it needs to be seen to be giving sanctions time to work but it also cannot afford to delay too long.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has warned that the any military action against Iran would have "enormous downsides".