Jerusalem: An Israeli cabinet member has warned that Israel should prepare for the possibility of a missile attack from Iran.

Rafi Eitan, a member of the inner cabinet, told Irsaeli Radio: "We are liable to face an Iranian missile attack. The Iranians have said very clearly that if they come under attack, their primary target would be Israel.

"Therefore we must prepare for what could come, and prepare the entire country for a missile strike attack, to prepare all the civilian systems so they are ready for this," he said.

The radio station warned Israelis to prepare bomb shelters in advance of a possible attack.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel "should not assume" its ceasefire with Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas last week means an end to the crisis.

The statement comes as tensions rise between Iran and six world powers including the US in the light of the UN's approaching deadline for Iran to halt nuclear enrichment or face sanctions.

To date, Israel is believed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East.