JERUSALEM, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- "An Iranian nuclear bomb is only a matter of time" if no military action is to be taken, Israeli Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University warned in its annual report released to press Tuesday.

    The report, Middle East Strategic Balance, also made the conclusion that "Israel can attack Iran on its own".

    INSS head Zvi Shtauber said Israel was "technically" capable of striking alone and would have to do it alone if it is to take any action, as no other country would agree to work openly with Israel.

    Brigadier General Giora Eiland, a member of the institute's board, suggested that Israel must pursue full "strategic and military" understanding with the United States if it decided to attack Iran.

    Israel considers Iran its most serious threat. It dismisses Tehran's claims that its nuclear program is designed solely to produce energy and is worried by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's repeated calls to wipe the Jewish state off the map.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program, but has said he hoped other ways could be found to keep Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.