NEW YORK -- The Pentagon has completed a "target list" of nuclear and non-nuclear military facilities in Iran, reports the BBC.
The "contingency" planning comes days before Tehran faces a deadline to suspend its nuclear fuel "enrichment" or face U.N. Security Council sanctions.
The Iranian government faces punitive action from the United Nations if its nuclear activities are not suspended by Wednesday.
Tehran has not only refused to meet the impending U.N. demands, but also began a series of major military war games on Monday.
The Iranian moves come as the Pentagon has moved a third aircraft carrier battle group into the Persian Gulf.
The moves by Washington are said to be in relation to President Bush's announced intention for a military force surge to improve "security" in Iraq.
And, that is where the BBC is reporting a "tripwire" has been laid by the Bush White House.
Despite public denials by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the BBC contends that the Pentagon has indeed "completed" a contingency target list for a possible campaign against Iran.
The tripwire, is said to be any direct Iranian involvement in attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, or any attempt to interfere with Persian Gulf shipping.
The strike list is reported to include major nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz and Bushehr.
It is also said to contain critical air-defense centers and key ports on the Persian Gulf.
"Any campaign will seek to cripple key parts of Iran's military, not just the nuclear facilities," reported the BBC.
Coincidentally, on Monday reports out of Iraq spoke of several brief Iranian naval incursions near the port of Basra.
In all instances, the Iranians left Iraqi waters when confronted by Iraqi patrol boats.
Neither the Iranian U.N. mission in New York nor the Pentagon had any comment on the BBC report.
