The United States has refused to rule out military action against
Iran if diplomacy fails, but analysts and officials say bombing nuclear
sites would carry high risks while setting back Tehran's program by
only a few years.
Military options often floated in Washington range from naval blockades,
pre-emptive air strikes against nuclear-related targets or even full-scale
ground assaults designed to topple the regime.
The most frequently cited scenario would involve an air attack that could damage Iran's nuclear network while raising the danger of retaliation against US forces in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan as well as targets elsewhere.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week downplayed the possibility of military action, saying on Friday such a move would only "buy time" by delaying Iran's suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons by one to three years.
