In response to the failure of Iran’s nuclear talks with the U.N. in Moscow, Israel warns Iran that the clock is ticking. International sanctions need to be ramped up as the clock ticks down closer to a possible military action.

Officials in Israel were briefed on the Iran talks by a member of the British negotiating team in Jerusalem. Israeli leaders were encouraged by the tough line taken by the West in the negotiations on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Within the next two weeks, new sanctions will be put into place by the U.S. and Europe.

Ehud Barak said, “I don’t want to pretend to set timelines for the world.” And then Israel’s defense minister added, “We have said loud and clear that it cannot be a matter of weeks but it (also) cannot be a matter of years.”

Preparations for a military strike against Iran’s nuclear program are a closely guarded secret in Israel but Barak did say, “at least on a technical level, there are a lot of preparations.”

There are no new dates set for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and no common ground could be found.

Israel’s vice Premier Shaul Mofaz said on his facebook page, “I explained that after the failure of the … talks in Moscow, the West must impose a full oil embargo on Iran and tough financial sanctions. In parallel, preparations for other options must continue.”

Israeli’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was cautioned by former security chiefs against ordering attacks on Iran. There seems to be doubt about how effective an Israeli air strike would be against Iran’s underground nuclear facility. Israel is believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear power. Israel states that a nuclear-armed Iran, who has called for Israel’s demise, would pose a threat to its very existence.

Barak, in a newspaper interview, told the reporters that it did not look like Iran was willing to make any concessions to the United Nations in regards to their nuclear aspirations. “By the third meeting in a negotiation, you know whether the other party intends to reach an agreement or, alternatively, whether he is trying to play for time to avoid a decision. It seems to me that the Iranians keep defying and deceiving the whole world. But it’s up to the participants in the negotiations to reach this conclusion. We cannot afford to spend another three rounds of this nature just to allow the Iranians to keep maneuvering.”

President Shimon Peres of Israel agreeing with Barak’s assessment said, “There’s not much time. If the Iranians … don’t heed the warnings, the calls and the economic sanctions, the world will look to other options.”