The UK and international media widely reports today on warnings that a military strike on Iran may take place this year. Several papers note a Washington Post report quoting a warning by US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta on a possible Israeli action against Iranian nuclear facilities this spring. The Daily Telegraph notes that similar warnings were presented by former senior White House aide Dennis Ross. The Daily Mail reports that Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister warned yesterday that Iran is developing missiles that could reach the UK. Reuters reports that IAEA officials currently in Tehran say little progress has been made in discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme. In other news, the Daily Telegraph examines what it describes as rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The paper also notes a controversial Israeli decision to offer schools tours in the West Bank city of Hebron. Several news sources also continue to follow diplomatic efforts in the UN Security Council to pass a resolution aimed at stopping the violence in Syria while avoiding a Russia veto. The violence in Egypt is also broadly reported in the UK media today, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and police in several Egyptian cities. The Times reports that Palestinian demonstrators hauled shoes and other objects at UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s convoy during the secretary General’s visit to the Gaza Strip yesterday.

In the Israeli press this morning, all papers lead wide coverage of Israeli and US warnings that Israel may act to stop Iran’s nuclear programme in the coming months. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta’s assessment in the Washington Post is broadly covered, as are statements made by senior Israeli ministers and defence officials in recent days. The Jerusalem Post front page notes efforts by Quartet Representative Tony Blair and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to present a package of economic gestures to the Palestinian Authority, which will help keep Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on track. Maariv and Haaretz report on the election of several prominent settlers to Likud’s Central Committee this week. Haaretz also reports statements by Shin-Bet Head Yoram Cohen, in which he warns against Iranian efforts to target Israeli representatives around the world as well as internal threats posed by settler groups in the West Bank.