Israeli President Signals Attack on Iran Might Be Imminent

Uriel Sinai/Getty Images(JERUSALEM) -- It would appear now that news leaked about a possible preemptive strike by Israel to knock out Iran's nuclear program is more viable than previously believed.

Israeli President Shimon Peres on Sunday went as far as to tell the Israel Hayom newspaper that "the possibility of a military attack against Iran is now closer to being applied than the application of a diplomatic option."

Peres' declaration comes just as the International Atomic Energy Agency gets set to release its latest study on Tehran's nuclear program, which the U.S., Israel and the West says is designed to create a weapons stockpile despite the government's long series of denials.

Last week, there were reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister were lobbying the Israeli Cabinet for permission to hit Iran's nuclear sites.  In addition, Israel also conducted ballistic missile tests and civil defense drills, a sign that the country may be preparing a major military operation.

Peres tempered the possibility of an imminent military attack against Iran by saying, "We must stay calm and resist pressure so that we can consider every alternative.  I don’t think that any decision has already been made, but there is an impression that Iran is getting closer to nuclear weapons."

Iran has already said it would strike back hard against Israel if any attack occurs and would also take revenge against the U.S.

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