US strike at Iran possible

The war strategists are reporting to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as the US is updating plans for action if the diplomatic offensive fails to thwart the Iran8217;s nuclear bomb ambitions, the report said.

8216;8216;This is more than just the standard military contingency assessment,8217;8217; a senior Pentagon adviser told the newspaper. 8216;8216;This has taken on much greater urgency in recent months.8217;8217;

The prospect of military action could put Washington at odds with Britain which fears that an attack would spark violence across the Middle East, reprisals in the West and may not cripple Tehran8217;s nuclear programme.

However, the steady flow of disclosures about Iran8217;s secret nuclear operations and the virulent anti-Israeli threats of President

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has prompted the fresh assessment of military options by Washington.

The most likely strategy would involve aerial bombardment by long-distance B2 bombers, each armed with up to 40,000lb of precision weapons, including the latest bunker-busting devices. They would fly from bases in Missouri with mid-air refueling.

The Bush administration has recently announced plans to add conventional ballistic missiles to the armoury of its nuclear trident submarines within the next two years. If ready in time, they will also form part of the plan of attack, the report said.

Tehran has dispersed its underground nuclear plants and has recently increased its air defences.