IRANIAN MEDIA reports indicate that Russian technicians have successfully initiated a fuel pool strength test at the Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP).
The Islamic Republic also announced plans to construct two new 1,000-megawatt units at the facility. Ahmad Fayyazbakhsh, Deputy Director of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), recently confirmed the two reactors would replace a second, unfinished unit.
 Israel has repeatedly warned the international community it would not tolerate a nuclear-capable Iran led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who infamously insisted that the Jewish state "must be wiped off the map."
Indeed, Israel Air Force (IAF) commander Maj. -Gen. Ido Nehushtan told Der Spiegel in November the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) was prepared to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
"If I understand it correctly, all options are on the table. The Air Force is a very robust and flexible force. We are ready to do whatever is demanded of us," said Nehushtan.
Iran, however, continues to dismiss Israel's warnings as crude "psychological" warfare.
"The global and regional situation and especially the confusion inside the Zionist regime (of Israel) itself do not give military strikes any serious ground. This is just a form of psychological war," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hassan Qashqavi Qashqavi.
Nevertheless, a number of analysts believe the specter of an Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear facilities continues to loom large. John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org and one of the world's leading experts on defense, space and intelligence policy, offered The News his assessment of the crisis.
"I think my judgement at this point is that the US vetoed such an action (Israeli military strike) last summer, and the Obama administration will maintain that there is still time for diplomacy to talk them out of their bomb," said Pike. "(The current administration) will continue to maintain this posture as long as Iran does not conduct a test - that is, seeking to deny Iran the benefits of a nuclear deterrent - so we will then have two opaque nuclear weapons states in the region."
The analyst noted that "apart from starting the plutonium production reactor at Arak next year...All other red lines have either been crossed or will be crossed within the next few months."
In addition, Pike explained that the wide geographic dispersion of Iran's nuclear facilities wouldn't necessarily hamper an Israeli strike.
"There are only half a dozen facilities that need to be hit. Iran needs 100 per cent of its program to go ahead. Israel does not, therefore, need to destroy 100 per cent of the programme."
Pike also commented on the possibility of Israel launching modified Jericho-II or Jericho-III missiles to neutralise Iran's nuclear sites.
"This is not a good option, as it would take all the missiles on hand," added Pike.
The Jewish state reportedly conducted a successful launch of the Jericho II medium-range ballistic missile in 2001 at the Palmahim missile range south of Tel Aviv. The Jericho-II, along with its Jericho-1 counterpart, are apparently deployed near Sedot Mikha in the Judean foothills, approximately 23 km east of Jerusalem and in close proximity to the Tel Nof air base.
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