Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. will not limit its options under a new nuclear strategy if Iran or North Korea decides to launch a nuclear attack, AP reported.
Gates told a Pentagon briefing that a new policy restricting the use of nuclear weapons did not apply to countries such as Iran and North Korea, which are pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community.
Gates said "all options are on the table when it comes to countries in that category." He also said the U.S. was moving toward a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, but wasn't yet ready to do so. Gates said he didn't believe "we were far enough along the road" toward controlling nuclear weapons around the world to give up the right to pre-emptive strikes.