Report: Gates January memo said US lacks long-range policy for Iran’s nuclear program

Report: Gates sent White House memo on Iran policy

WASHINGTON — A published report says a memo from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to the White House warned that the United States lacks a nimble long-term plan for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

The New York Times, quoting unnamed government officials, reported that Gates wrote the three-page memo in January and it set off efforts in the Pentagon, White House and intelligence agencies to come up with new options, including the use of the military.

But White House official Benjamin Rhodes strongly disputed that account Saturday night. The deputy national security advisor told The Associated Press that the administration has been planning for all contingencies regarding Iran for many months.

Nuclear expert David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security said that Iran watchers only know that Iran is increasing its nuclear weapons capabilities. He told the AP that they don’t have any insight into what Iran is thinking about doing.