Netanyahu Says Iran Moving Closer To Atomic Weapon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran continues to move closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon.

Speaking in Jerusalem to visiting U.S. Jewish leaders, Netanyahu said new centrifuges that Iran has installed for its uranium enrichment program could cut by one-third the time needed to create a nuclear bomb.

He said, however, that Iran has not yet crossed what he called the "red line," after which it would possess enough material make an atomic bomb.

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September, Netanyahu estimated Iran could have enough highly enriched material to make one nuclear bomb by summer, 2013.

Israel has not ruled out a military strike to roll back Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran denies any nuclear weapon ambitions.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP