Israel is technically capable of mounting a military attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities which would probably succeed in delaying but not destroying Tehran’s nuclear programme, many defence analysts agree. But there is a significant risk to mounting such an operation – and little agreement whether even a successful strike would be worth the likely political, diplomatic and economic consequences.

“It’s possible to have an effective strike,” says Shmuel Bar, director of studies at Israel’s Institute of Policy and Strategy at Herzliya. But effective means delaying – not ending – Iran’s nuclear programme, he said.