Iran Attack Strategy 'Is Ready If Needed'

http://news.sky.com

The highest-ranking military officer in the US has confirmed the country has a plan to attack Iran - but it will not be put into action anytime soon.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a plan does exist - although he thought a strike was probably a bad idea.

Such an attack would only be launched to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, he added.

The American officer has often warned that a military strike would have serious and unpredictable consequences across the Middle East.

However, he also said the risk of the country acquiring a nuclear weapon was unacceptable.

Talking to American television network NBC, Admiral Mullen said a strike remained an option if need be and the US had a plan at hand.

"The military options have been on the table and remain on the table," he said.

"It's one of the options that the president has. I hope we don't get to that, but it's an important option and it's one that's well understood."

Both the US and Israel have declared in the past that the option of attacking the Islamic Republic must remain on the table.

Admiral Mullen's confirmation of a plan comes after an Iranian newspaper last week reported the country had set aside 100 military vessels to confront warships from the US or any other foreign power that might pose a threat.

The warning builds on earlier threats by Iran to seal off the Gulf's strategic Strait of Hormuz - through which 40% of the world's oil passes - in response to any military attack.

Relations between the Middle East power and the West have cooled since the UN imposed a new and tougher set of sanctions on the country.

The latest set of restrictions aim to force Iran to comply with international demands over its nuclear programme.

The US and EU fear the republic is enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons, despite protestations by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the programme has purely peaceful aims.