Israel’s gamble on force could push Iran to accelerate nuclear plans

Experts say the strikes have delayed Tehran's bomb-making by months - but may undermine chances of a diplomatic solution

In just a few days of war, Israel has killed more than a dozen of Iran's top nuclear scientists, taken out much of its top military hierarchy and attacked key parts of its nuclear programme.

It has been a powerful display of Israeli military and intelligence dominance, but has not critically damaged Iran's widely dispersed and heavily protected nuclear programme, Israeli military commanders and international nuclear proliferation experts agree.