Israel is hinting a possible preemptive military action against Iran if it continues with its nuclear development program, despite rising international concerns.

In an interview with CNN, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Iran can be a nuclear power within one year if its nuclear development continues at the current pace.

He said that now is the time to take action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, suggesting that a launching of a preemptive military strike is possible.

However, the Israeli defense minister did not rule out the possibility of resolving the Iranian nuclear problem through diplomacy, stressing that joint international efforts are important in tackling the issue.

Meanwhile, the U.S. opposes Israel’s option of military action against Iran and will impose additional sanctions on Iran on Tuesday.