An Iranian nuclear bomb is more dangerous than the consequences of attacking the Iranian nuclear reactors, Channel 10 quoted former head of IDF Intelligence Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin as saying on Monday at a conference to present the Institute for National Security Studies' (INSS) strategic assessment for 2013.
"Iran completed all of the steps that would allow it to make a nuclear bomb when it decides to, and when it does, Israel will have to act," Channel 10 quoted him as saying.
However, Yadlin stressed that Iran's nuclear program has yet to reach the point of no return and that Israel must give diplomacy a chance first.
"They don't have enough centrifuges. When they have over 10,000 centrifuges, it will justify an Israeli and American action," he said.
He also emphasized the important of "deepening the strategic dialogue with the United States."
On Sunday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the new government's main objective would be to stop the Iranian nuclear program.
"This is a task [that is] becoming more difficult because Iran is acquiring new centrifuges that reduce the enrichment time. We cannot accept this," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting.
Tehran announced last week that it was upgrading its nuclear enrichment equipment at the Natanz nuclear plant, something that will speed up the uranium enrichment process.
Herb Keinon contributed to this report.