Region | Iran
War plan details emerge amid denials
The White House and Pentagon insist that there are no plans to launch a military offensive against Iran. But not only are there detailed plans to launch bombing raids against key Iranian nuclear and military installations, it goes by the ominously named Tirannt.
- By Tom Clifford,Assistant Editor, International
- Published: 00:00 February 20, 2007
Dubai: The White House and Pentagon insist that there are no plans to launch a military offensive against Iran. But not only are there detailed plans to launch bombing raids against key Iranian nuclear and military installations, it goes by the ominously named Tirannt. The acronym stands for Theatre Iran Near Term and it has been in the pipeline for four years involving the US army, navy, air force and Marines.
As soon as Saddam Hussain was overthrown, the plan was given priority treatment by the Pentagon even with the difficulties the US military was facing in Iraq. Tirannt is specific about the sites to be targeted in Iran. These include but are not limited to Natanz, where uranium is enriched.
Other nuclear sites at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also listed. Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can make fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb.
It is believed that Iran has hundreds of centrifuges which are needed to enrich the uranium, a vital component of a nuclear energy industry. However, a nuclear bomb would require thousands of centrifuges. Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only and that it is doing what it is entitled to, developing its own nuclear energy.
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