TEHRAN – Israel is not responsible for the lives of Iranian nuclear scientists, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said in an interview published on Friday, making a less-than-veiled threat that covert assassination missions blamed on Israel could resume.

As the world moves closer to ratifying a nuclear deal that Jerusalem says won’t keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear arsenal, Ya’alon told German newspaper Der Spiegel that Israel would do anything necessary in order to assure Tehran does not get atomic weapons, including taking military action.

“Ultimately it is very clear, one way or another, Iran’s military nuclear program must be stopped. We will act in any way and are not willing to tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran. We prefer that this be done by means of sanctions, but in the end, Israel should be able to defend itself,” the defense minister said.

Ya’alon further stated that Israel was considering carrying out airstrikes on Iranian military facilities.

Five Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in the last decade, most of them by bombs placed on their cars.

Israel was blamed by Iran to be behind the assassinations, but never admitted any involvement.

SP/OS