Israel is involved in a covert war of sabotage inside Iran to try to delay Tehran's alleged attempts to develop a nuclear weapon, a British newspaper said yesterday, quoting a former CIA agent and intelligence experts.

"Israel has launched a covert war against Iran as an alternative to direct military strikes against Tehran's nuclear programme," Britain's Daily Telegraph said on Tuesday. "It is using hitmen, sabotage, front companies and double agents to disrupt the regime's illicit weapons project, the experts say."