Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said he did not rule out preventive military action to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, in a newspaper interview published on Friday.
"I am not advocating Israeli pre-emptive military action against Iran and I am aware of all of its possible repercussions," Sneh was quoted as telling the English-language Jerusalem Post newspaper.
"I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort."
Sneh said he still hoped the international community would implement effective sanctions against Iran but added: "The chances are not high... My working assumption is that they won't succeed".