Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday he was certain that Iran is engaged in a secret operation to build nuclear weapons.

"We are of the view that the Iranians are continuing to pursue their plans to create a capacity for non-conventional weapons," he said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a meeting.

"Nothing that we've seen so far has changed our view on that," he said, speaking through an interpreter.

Olmert also said he was sharing information with other countries about Iran's nuclear programme and that no options should be forgotten in trying to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons.

"As (US) President (George W) Bush once said: no option is ruled out," he said.

Israeli officials have said Olmert planned to press for stronger international pressure on Iran at the United Nations, where a new sanctions resolution has been drafted. - Reuters