U.S. admits having Iran attack plan

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of US Armed Forces Mike Mullen said Sunday the United States has a plan in place to attack Iran, if it is necessary.

"Military actions have been on the table and remain on the table" for curbing Iran's nuclear ambition," Mullen, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer, told NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

Asked whether the military had a plan in place to attack Iran if it is needed, he replied: "We do. I hope we don't get to that, but it's an important option, and it's one that's well understood," he said.

But Mullen, according to Xinhua news agency, said attacking Iran would not be the best option Washington seeks "not just for the consequences of the action itself, but the things that could result after the fact."

According to him, the so-called "dual-track" strategy, or the combination of multilateral diplomacy and international sanctions, remains the preferred option to suspend Tehran's nuclear program.

Mullen's remark followed Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's trip to Washington. The United States, Israel and their allies worry that Tehran may obtain the uranium fuel needed for developing nuclear weapons. That claim was rejected by Iranian government which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purpose.