Israel is far away from making a decision about military action against Iran, the country's defence minister has declared.

Ehud Barak, in an interview with Army Radio, refused to make forecasts about when a plan to tackle Iran's nuclear programme might emerge.

"We don't have a decision to go forward with these things," he said. "The whole thing is very far away."

Iran is planning to begin uranium enrichment soon at a new subterranean facility, bringing forward the moment when Israel and the United States will have to decide whether to launch a military strike.

Meanwhile, the clandestine campaign against the nuclear programme continues. This week another Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in Tehran.

Syria has claimed Israel represents a "grave and serious threat" at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The accusation, about Israel's nuclear capabilities, was made by Syrian delegate Bassam al-Sabbagh.

But according to another delegate present, comments made by other Arab nations were less hostile towards Israel than on previous occasions.

Iran’s atomic energy envoy has claimed his country's findings made them an “Israeli assassination target.”

Earlier this week, Iran buried a senior commander and 17 others, killed after a huge explosion at one of Iran's most important military bases. Internet rumours blamed Mossad for explosion.

A report looking at Iran's nuclear plans is expected to reveal that the country has been receiving help from Russia, Pakistan and North Korea.

Distracted by the Arab Spring and the latest Palestinian theatrics, the West has paid little attention to Iran in recent months.

But revolutions or not, Iran's nuclear clock continues to tick and the hour of reckoning may now be near.

The Prime Minister has vowed that Britain will not allow Iran “to cast a nuclear shadow” over the Middle East.

David Cameron, addressing the Kuwaiti National Assembly on his first visit to the Middle East since the region erupted in popular protest, said it was “disappointing and gravely concerning” that Iran had not responded to “the hand of friendship”.

He said: “We will not stand by and allow Iran to cast a nuclear shadow over this region nor accept interference by Iran in the affairs of its neighbours.”

A leading figure in world Jewry has labelled the Egyptian opposition leader Mohammed ElBaradei “a stooge” of the Iranian regime.

Malcolm Honlein, the executive vice-president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, accused Mr ElBaradei of fronting for Iran and “distorting reports” during his 12 years as director of the International Atomic Energy Agency.