Going after Iran in Iran

Still pretty speculative reporting, and "drawing up plans" is many steps away from actually doing anything, but this does mark a significant ratcheting up.

The US military is drawing up plans for a “surgical strike” against an insurgent training camp inside Iran if Republican Guards continue with attempts to destabilise Iraq, western intelligence sources said last week.

It should be noted that this is being put out into the newsstream rather than leaked, so it's a pressure point they want out there.

Related: There was also this very off the path report from Andrew Cockburn on Friday that I would treat with some skepticism.

Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret finding authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents, "unprecedented in its scope."

Bush’s secret directive covers actions across a huge geographic area – from Lebanon to Afghanistan – but is also far more sweeping in the type of actions permitted under its guidelines – up to and including the assassination of targeted officials. This widened scope clears the way, for example, for full support for the military arm of Mujahedin-e Khalq, the cultish Iranian opposition group, despite its enduring position on the State Department's list of terrorist groups.

Treat this one with some doubt, but, as a story, it would fall into an increased pressure effort.

(Also: The Iranians have turned down the next round of security talks on Iraq.)