TEL AVIV, Nov. 19 (Agencies) – A former top Zionist military official says an attack on Iran would be in line with efforts aimed at overthrowing the Tehran government.

The Zionist regime alleges that Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has plans 'to build a nuclear weapon'. Under the allegation, Zionist echelons have long argued that the use of military force is a legitimate option in retarding Iran's nuclear progress.

Moshe Ya'alon, a former Zionist Defense Force chief of staff, said Tuesday that the Zionist armed forces have the 'right capabilities' to successfully strike Iran.

His remarks come shortly after Russia and China, two veto-wielding Security Council members, declared their opposition to adopting any new anti-Iran UNSC sanctions.

The controversial Zionist general, who claimed Tehran 'could be stopped through military means', did not stop short of suggesting that Tel Aviv should concentrate on targeting the Iranian government's assets 'with an eye to regime change', Haaretz reported.

"[A strike] is not the end of the game. Then, we should follow it up with a viable, sustainable Military operation to target the facilities [serving] the regime's interests, and not allow the regime to rehabilitate itself," said Ya'alon, who is believed to seek a Likud parliament seat in the next election.

"And, of course, a follow-up of political and diplomatic elements, to convince, first of all, the Iranian people, to go a different way," the Zionist general continued.

Iran says if struck by either the Zionists or the US, its ballistic missiles will target 32 American bases in the region as well as the heart of Tel Aviv.

By explicating one of the starkest pro-war visions toward Iran among Zionist echelons, Ya'alon echoed a plan believed to have originated from the US vice president's office.

In line with the Bush Doctrine of preemption, Dick Cheney is said to believe that 'regime change' in Iran could not be accomplished without the use of military force.

Under such scheme, a war waged by Tel Aviv -- which claims a nuclear Tehran would pose an existential threat to the Zionist entity -- could be beneficial to the two staunch allies.

Earlier on Tuesday, a former senior Iranian diplomat warned that the White House was making strenuous efforts to orchestrate a 'Velvet Revolution' in Iran.

An unnamed senior European Union diplomat said in early November that the bloc is concerned that 'a possible Zionist strike against Iran is not completely off the radar'.

The official suggested that the perfect time for the Zionists to strike Iranian nuclear installations 'is between now and January 20' -- when US President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

The President-elect has vowed to directly and diplomatically engage Iranian leaders in order to resolve the nuclear dispute, causing Tel Aviv's first dissonance with an Obama administration.