WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (EJP) --- Israel’s ambassador to the US Michael Oren dismissed criticism of a possible Israeli strike on Iran, as he insisted it would be worth it “on the assumption that we can only gain a delay” in the Islamist regime’s nuclear development programme.

Speaking of the likelihood of military action only serving as a stalling tactic, he invoked the mass transitions across the region resulting from the Arab Spring, declaring “one, two, three, four years are a long time in the Middle East”.

Appearing to refute objections by US Joint Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey Tuesday that an Israeli strike would only delay Iran’s nuclear programme by one year, he insisted that whilst “to this day, Iran does not have a nuclear weapon”, “on the basis of our previous experience, (the temporary nature of military action) is not an argument against”.

Oren’s comments are the second of their kind in recent days, as an imminent Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities looks ever more likely. Earlier this week, he declared in response to US claims there is “still time and space for diplomacy”, that there are “structural differences between the United States and Israel” and that Israel’s time bomb on the Iranian issue “is ticking faster” than America’s.

Concerns over Israel’s military intentions appear to be backed up by domestic activity, as it emerged that Tel Aviv has freed up 60 underground parking garages, with the capacity to house 800,000 citizens in case missile attacks. Israeli daily Maariv reported Wednesday that the facilities have already been assessed to meet Home Front Command standards by a private engineering company.

Meanwhile, the news division of Israel television Channel 2 has called on the Communications Ministry and Second Authority for Television and Radio to advise the country’s media agencies how best to reinforce themselves ahead of any attack on Israel. Whilst the state-controlled Channel 1 has reinforced broadcast studios suitable for wartime use, neither Channel 2 nor the commercial Channel 10 has appropriate premises and have asked the state to contribute to the estimated NIS 4 million (€800,000, $1 million) cost of building facilities.

Increasing Israeli media reports of a likely attack on Iran, as well as the probably response from Tehran in such an event have led to an sharp increase in numbers of Israeli citizens claiming government-issued gas mask protection kits.

An Israeli television report earlier this week claimed that in contrast with Israel’s 2006 war with Lebanese Hezbollah, which saw 4,500 rockets and missiles fired into Israeli territory, an attack on Iran would likely prompt the firing of some 50,000 missiles into Israel, at a cost of an estimated 500 Israeli lives. An additional response would likely be forthcoming from close Iranian ally Hezbollah, too, which already claims to have weaponry capable of hitting any target in Israel.

Whilst insisting Israel had the greatest motivation of all international powers to resolve the nuclear dispute with Iran using diplomatic means, he said Iran had shown “no flexibility” in its negotiations with western powers.

Highlighting Israel’s most pressing concern, he added: “An Iranian nuclear weapon is an existential threat to Israel,” concluding: “We don’t just say it. They say it as well. They confirm it.”