Iran could conceivably develop a "nuclear option" within two years, Major General Amos Yadlin, head of the Intelligence Branch of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), warned in a briefing to the Knesset (parliament)'s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.

According to local daily Ha'aretz, Yadlin said the Iranians are continuing the development of nuclear material as well as nuclear weapons and will likely achieve a viable weapon in 2010.

Yadlin presented a list of existing Iranian weapons and those in development. Among other things, Iran has an arsenal of Shihab 3 missiles with a range of 1,300 km, Yadlin said, adding that these missiles could potentially strike Israel.

The Iranians are also developing an upgraded version of the Shihab, which will have a range of 2,000 km, he said. "This kind of range would allow the firing of missiles at Israel from deep inside Iran, rather than close to the border."

In addition to the Shihab missiles, the Iranians are developing a weapon propelled by solid fuel that would also have a range of 2,000 km, Yadlin added.

The Untied States and other Western countries have accused Iran of using a civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons, a charge repeatedly denied by Tehran.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2008)