U.S. Has 'Contingency' Plan To Deal With Iran Nuclear Program

Army General David Petraeus (file photo)

A top U.S. general says Washington has developed what he describes as a "contingency" plan for dealing with Iran's nuclear program if diplomacy and sanctions fail to rein in the Iranian program.

General David Petraeus -- who heads the U.S. Central Command overseeing U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gulf, and Central Asia -- however gave no details about the U.S. planning.

In an interview with CNN, Petraeus also declined to comment on the possibility of a military strike by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Petraeus added that there was still time for world powers to engage Iran in diplomacy to resolve the standoff.

The United States is now leading efforts to impose a potential fourth round of United Nations sanctions on Iran after Tehran declined to accept a UN-brokered agreement on uranium enrichment.

Iran denies allegations it is trying to make a nuclear weapon under the cover of a civilian nuclear energy program.

compiled from agency reports