Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that it is time for diplomatic pressure, not a military strike to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.

If diplomacy fails, then there will be no alternative to referring the Islamic Republic to the United Nations Security Council, Sharon told Israel Radio in a pre-Passover interview.

Israel, known to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East, sent warplanes to destroy an Iranian nuclear facility in 1981.

Asserting that Israel will not lead the international effort to stop its arch foe's nuclear ambition, Sharon also voiced concern that the world is becoming accustomed to a future nuclear-armed Iran.

"I am troubled by the fact - we hear this perhaps more in Europe than in the United States - that the world is beginning to grow accustomed to the idea that the day will come and Iran will be a member of the nuclear weapons club," he said.

Iran is accused by the United States of developing nuclear weapons secretly, a charge denied by Tehran, who claims its nuclear program is purely for civilian purpose.

Iran now is holding nuclear talks with the European Union, which tried to persuade Tehran to give up enriching uranium in exchange for economic and technical incentives.

Iran suspended its uranium enrichment last November, but insisted this be a voluntary and revocable move.

Source: Xinhua