Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was ready to order a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities “if necessary”, in an interview aired by Channel Two television on Monday.
“I am, of course, ready to press the button if necessary,” Netanyahu said in the interview.
His comments came after Channel Two reported on Sunday that Netanyahu and and Defence Minister Ehud Barak had given orders in 2010 for the army to prepare an attack against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The orders were later rescinded in the face of the opposition of then chief of staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi and then Mossad spy chief Meir Dagan, the television said.
Israel like its US ally has consistently refused to rule out a resort to military action to prevent Iran developing the capability to build a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies any such ambition, insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful power generation and medical purposes only.
Israel, which has the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear arsenal, says it regards a nuclear Iran as a threat to its existence.
Israel ready to strike Iran 'if necessary': Netanyahu
