The U.S. ambassador to Israel revealed this week that the United States is prepared to attack Iran to stop the Islamist regime from developing a nuclear weapon.

Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro told Israel’s Army Radio on Thursday that the Pentagon has developed plans for the “use of military force” against Iran.

Earlier this week, Mr. Shapiro used the same language in a speech that was “not intended to become public,” according to a report on Israel’s Channel 2 television news. The TV broadcast said a reporter was present at the event and recorded Mr. Shapiro’s comments.

The ambassador’s remarks to Army Radio are the first public comments by a U.S. official confirming that the United States is prepared for military acton. In the past, U.S. officials have said an attack was only an “option.”

“It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically and through the use of pressure than to use military force,” Mr. Shapiro said in the radio interview.

The Washington Times reported May 2 that the U.S. Central Command, responsible for military deployment in Central Asia and the Middle East, had developed war plans to target Iran.

The ambassador’s blunt warning to Iran comes only days before the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia are due to resume talks with Iran over its nuclear program. The talks will be on Wednesday in Baghdad.

The chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the resumption of talks as a waste of time.

“I am deeply concerned that the [Obama] administration’s foolish embrace of yet another round of negotiations will only embolden the regime,” Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said at a committee hearing on Iran sanctions Thursday.

“The administration has made concession after concession in its negotiations with Iran only to come up empty-handed.”

The Florida Republican has sponsored a House-passed bill that would impose what she calls “crippling sanctions” on Iran and “close loopholes” in the current sanctions. (© 2012 The Washington Times, LLC. 05/18/12)