An influential U.S. lawmaker says military force cannot be ruled out if Iran does not bow to diplomatic efforts to halt its alleged nuclear weapons program.
In a speech Saturday at an international security conference in Munich, Senator John McCain said the only thing worse than military action is a nuclear-armed Iran. McCain added that military force is a "totally undesirable option" of last resort.
Earlier today at the conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called Iran's government the "leading state sponsor of terrorism," and said the world must work together to prevent a nuclear Iran.
The United States and the European Union have said Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
