Mofaz says Iran heading toward nuclear breakthrough

Washington: Iran is heading toward a major breakthrough in its nuclear programme, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Friday.

"As soon as 2010 (Iran) will have the option to reach (uranium production) at military levels," he told an audience in Washington.

But Mofaz said he supported diplomacy and spoke of other options as "last resort".

"It is a race against time and time is winning," Mofaz said.

Mofaz said another UN Security Council resolution with new sanctions will be needed this year if Iran does not meet the deadline for responding this weekend.

"We must insist on Iran meeting the timetable set," he said in his remarks at the Washington Institute. "The red line should be that there is no uranium enrichment on Iranian soil."