This morning’s Telegraph suggests that Iran has begun implementing a ‘plan B’ to produce a nuclear weapons capability. With international scrutiny focused on Tehran’s enrichment of uranium, the Telegraph publishes satellite images of a nuclear plant at Arak, which it says is already actively working to produce plutonium, a process also capable of producing fissile material. Apparently, international inspectors have not been able to visit the site since 2011 and Iran has refused to detail its activities there. Meanwhile, talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme which began yesterday in Kazakhstan between Iran and the so-called P5+1 forum representing Western countries is covered widely in the Evening Standard, Independent i and the online editions of the Guardian, Times, Independent and Financial Times. P5+1 representatives made an offer yesterday to ease some international sanctions on Iran in return for several steps which would provide guarantees over the nature of Iran’s nuclear development. An Iranian response is expected today.

Meanwhile, the Independent i and the online editions of the Telegraph and Independent report the rocket which was fired from Gaza into Israel yesterday morning. It was the first such attack since a ceasefire ended Operation Pillar of Defence in November. The Al-Alqsa Martyrs Brigade, which is affiliated to the Fatah faction headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, claimed responsibility for the incident, claiming that it was a “preliminary response” to the death of Arafat Jaradat in Israeli detention over the weekend, which triggered violent protests in the West Bank. The Guardian reports that two Palestinian teenagers were injured by Israeli security forces during the West Bank unrest earlier this week.

The Independent, Financial Times, Telegraph and Independent i all cover the US Senate’s approval of Chuck Hagel as new US Defence Secretary following a protracted seven-week long process, during which Republicans attempted to block his appointment, at times accusing him of being unduly critical of Israel and soft on Iran. Meanwhile, both the Times and Financial Times online suggest that Saudi Arabia is supplying arms to Syrian opposition forces via Croatia. The Financial Times online also reports that the main opposition alliance in Egypt has announced a boycott of upcoming parliamentary elections, which would effectively hand control of Egypt’s parliament to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and ultra-conservative Salafi factions.

In this morning’s Israeli media, Israel Hayom leads with the report from this morning’s Telegraph, which suggests that Iran is developing a ‘plan B’ to its nuclear programme, by developing plutonium at the Arak plant. This is also the top story on the YNet news site, affiliated to Yediot Ahronot. Meanwhile, both Maariv and Makor Rishon lead with an announcement made yesterday by Israel’s Police Commissioner that a letter accusing Education Minister and leading Likud figure Gideon Sa’ar of sexual misconduct is a forgery. A preliminary police investigation into the forged letter is likely to get underway. Haaretz, Maariv and Makor Rishon also give prominence to the announcement yesterday by Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett that he hired a private investigator to probe claims that votes were being bought during the party’s internal elections. Police are investigating allegations that Jewish Home parliamentarian Nissan Slomiansky illegally paid a vote contractor to secure votes for him. Bennett said yesterday that he is “proud” of his actions and that the findings it produced were passed on to the legal authorities.

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom and Jerusalem Post report that significant progress has been made in coalition talks between Jewish Home and Likud-Beitenu, especially over the issue of drafting ultra-Orthodox religious seminary students, on which it is reported Jewish Home is also negotiating on behalf of Yesh Atid’s interests. Maariv reports that if Yesh Atid does join the coalition, then it will oppose the role of Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni at the head of future negotiations with the Palestinians, a position also held by Jewish Home.