US 'Iran attack plans' revealed

**xrough** · 20 Feb 07,, 07:19

US 'Iran attack plans' revealed

US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, the BBC has learned.
It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres.

The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.

The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions.

But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan, senior officials at Central Command in Florida have already selected their target sets inside Iran.

That list includes Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. Facilities at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also on the target list, the sources say.

Two triggers

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the trigger for such an attack reportedly includes any confirmation that Iran was developing a nuclear weapon - which it denies.

The Natanz plant is buried under concrete, metal and earth
Alternatively, our correspondent adds, a high-casualty attack on US forces in neighbouring Iraq could also trigger a bombing campaign if it were traced directly back to Tehran.

Long range B2 stealth bombers would drop so-called "bunker-busting" bombs in an effort to penetrate the Natanz site, which is buried some 25m (27 yards) underground.

The BBC's Tehran correspondent France Harrison says the news that there are now two possible triggers for an attack is a concern to Iranians.

Authorities insist there is no cause for alarm but ordinary people are now becoming a little worried, she says.

Deadline

Earlier this month US officials said they had evidence Iran was providing weapons to Iraqi Shia militias. At the time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the accusations were "excuses to prolong the stay" of US forces in Iraq.

Middle East analysts have recently voiced their fears of catastrophic consequences for any such US attack on Iran.

Britain's previous ambassador to Tehran, Sir Richard Dalton, told the BBC it would backfire badly by probably encouraging the Iranian government to develop a nuclear weapon in the long term.

Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can make fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb.

Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only, but Western countries suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council has called on Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium by 21 February.

If it does not, and if the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms this, the resolution says that further economic sanctions will be considered.

**Dreadnought** · 20 Feb 07,, 18:07

I would not take this article in truth by any means.

My Point: With how much the media has done to damage the U.S. in the last few years I highly doubt that the U.S. Foreign Policy or Military Plan of action is anywhere near their scope of comprehension shall we say. To believe this rubbish would lead one to believe that person is as foolish as those who dreamed up this article.

Just selling newspapers and hits on their websites are all they are concerned with and certainly not the truth as we all have seen time and time again.

**Confed999** · 21 Feb 07,, 02:23

There are a dozen different different plans to attack every country, made by every country with the capacity to attack. Every country with a space program probably has plans for lunar invasions. In this case who would doubt that Iran's military planners have thought up ways to attack the USA, Israel, heck the West in general? Not me, in fact I'd call 'em stupid if they haven't.

**xrough** · 21 Feb 07,, 07:09

Base upon the development in the situation in Iran's nuclear program..I think US has some sort of plan about military action towards Iran..Though US looking for diplomatic solutions but I think they prepared for worse case scenario.

**xrough** · 21 Feb 07,, 07:30

No sign of compromise on Iran nuclear crisis as UN deadline looms

**Ray** · 21 Feb 07,, 14:14

Iran 'swiftly seeks nuclear goal'

Ahmadinejad has claimed Iran's right to nuclear technology

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran will try to achieve nuclear capability as soon as possible.

His comments, reported by Iran's Isna news agency, come as a UN deadline for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme expires.

For the first time, a political party in Iran has called on Mr Ahmadinejad to accept the UN's demands.

Iran denies Western claims that it is seeking nuclear weapons, saying its programme is for purely peaceful ends.

A UN resolution, adopted on 23 December 2006, imposed sanctions against Iran's nuclear and missile programmes and opened the way for further measures if it failed to halt uranium enrichment within two months.

Following the deadline's expiry on Wednesday, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog is expected to report that Iran has defied the 60-day ultimatum to suspend its activities.

Iran resumed uranium enrichment last year. The process can produce fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb.

Signs of dissent

Speaking in the northern town of Siahkal, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran was determined to acquire nuclear capabilities, even to the exclusion of everything else.

It is worth it to stop other activities for 10 years and focus only on the nuclear issue

"Obtaining this technology is very important for our country's development and honour. It is worth it to stop other activities for 10 years and focus only on the nuclear issue."

But one small radical reformist political party, the Islamic Revolutionary Mujahadin Organisation, has complained that Iran's drive to produce nuclear energy has endangered national security, the national interest and the destiny of the Iranian people.

"The [Iranian] officials should open talks before [UN] Resolution 1737's deadline runs out and accept its sensitive requirements to prevent the adoption of new resolutions against our country," the party was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

"This nation has other more important and undeniable rights which should not be sacrificed for this one," it said in a statement.

The party asks why Iran needs to produce the fuel for one power plant that has not even been completed yet.

The BBC's Frances Harrison says this is the first time there has been open criticism of Mr Ahmedinejad's nuclear policy.

Allies of the president in parliament were quick to say it came from lackeys of the United States who did not even know the basics of politics, our correspondent adds.

Earlier, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said the issue could only be resolved through dialogue, not force.

"Anybody interested in non-conventional or illogical, irrational [moves] would definitely receive an appropriate response," he said after meeting IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in Vienna.

But he said Iran was looking "for ways and means to start negotiations".

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran 'swiftly seeks nuclear goal'

There are people in Iran who realise how reckless Ahmedinejad is.

If it were for peaceful purpose, then what is the big deal in allowing international checks and safeguards?

**Dreadnought** · 21 Feb 07,, 16:43

Originally Posted by xrough

Base upon the development in the situation in Iran's nuclear program..I think US has some sort of plan about military action towards Iran..Though US looking for diplomatic solutions but I think they prepared for worse case scenario.

Oh certainly agreed. But to think the U.S. would release any REAL information is a farse. There is no way they would tell the media anything even remotely close to what they are planning. This article and many that will follow is only the media's guessworks in play and holds no fact as to their planning operations. The BBC is British based so any information they would recieve would come from trickle down reports from our own media and their speculation over military movements which is also just about as faulty as the rest.

**gunnut** · 21 Feb 07,, 19:53

US has a contingency plan to attack just about every nation on this earth. The only people who are surprised by this are the reporters.

Having a contingency plan to attack doesn't mean the attack is imminent.

We all have auto insurance. That doesn't mean we plan to wreck our cars soon.

**xrough** · 22 Feb 07,, 08:47

Yes its true that media most of the time made exaggerated reports on any issues but I think we do all agree that US has a plan for this conflict based upon the recent deployment on another carrier across the Gulf..

**xrough** · 23 Feb 07,, 04:12

Iran defies deadline to halt atom work

**Ray** · 24 Feb 07,, 04:23

Iran leader vows nuclear defiance
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Mr Ahmadinejad said the Iranian people would defend their rights
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran will defend its nuclear programme to the end, and must not show weakness "in front of the enemy".

His comments came a day after the UN nuclear body confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to stop uranium enrichment.

Permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will meet on Monday to discuss further sanctions against Iran.

More at:

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran leader vows nuclear defiance

Now what?

**Native** · 06 Mar 12,, 16:31

I laugh every time I read or see on the news a report that the U.S. has or is developing "a plan".
Contingency plans exist for everything. I think it was on Sci-fi the other night, they were talking about how our Govt. has developed contingency plans for an alien invasion.
Contingency planning is what we do on a daily basis besides operational intelligence and operational intelligence is used to update the contingency plan.