MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The top U.S. military officer says he is sure that Iran is still working to build a nuclear bomb.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the U.S. and Iran's neighbors are worried. He was in Bahrain, across the Persian Gulf from Iran and home to a U.S. Navy base that would be on the front lines of any future war with Iran.
He says the U.S. is "very ready" to respond to any threat from Iran.
Mullen says he would like to avoid using military force to stop Iran from developing a weapon. He says he fears the "unintended consequences" of striking Iran, but stressed that a military option is still on the table if it's needed.
Iran denies it is building a bomb.