The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

The United States is at present opposed to any Israeli military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday.

"The Americans are not ready to allow us to attack Iran," Barak told army radio. "Our position is that no option is to be taken off the table but in the meantime we have to make diplomatic progress."

Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear power, considers Iran its main strategic threat because of its nuclear programme, which Israel and its US ally suspect is aimed at developing weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting its the programme is aimed solely at providing electricity for its growing population when its fossils fuels run out.