"In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return," it said in a statement.

"The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilogrammes of enriched uranium, alongside decentralised and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time," it added.

In a separate briefing to journalists, Israeli army spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that Israeli jets had also "attacked and damaged" Iranian air defence systems.

Defrin said Israel saw a three-pronged threat from Iran.

Firstly, Iran was "rushing toward a nuclear bomb", he said.

"We are now revealing for the first time, based on intelligence, that the Iranian regime has established a secret programme.

"As part of this programme, senior nuclear scientists in Iran secretly conducted experiments to advance all the necessary components for building a nuclear weapon," said Defrin.

"This is unequivocal proof that the Iranian regime is working to acquire nuclear weapons in the near future," he said.

Defrin said the second part of the threat involved Iran building thousands of ballistic missiles "with plans to double and triple them".

"The third component: the Iranian regime continues to arm, fund and direct its proxies across the Middle East against the State of Israel," he added.

"Our operation's goal is to eliminate the threat."

In another statement the military said it had gathered materials showing the "Iranian regime had a concrete plan to destroy the state of Israel".

The plan was named "The Destruction of Israel Plan", the military said.

"The State of Israel was left with no choice. The IDF is obligated to act in order to defend the citizens of the State of Israel and will continue to do so," it added.