What would a U.S. attack on Iran look like?

President Obama wrote an op-ed piece this week that ran in papers across the country, saying that if Iran violates the recently negotiated agreement, "it's possible that we won't have any other choice than to act militarily."

A U.S. attack on Iran, according to two officers involved in planning and several others interviewed for this story, requires more than pinpoint strikes against that country's nuclear facilities. It could spawn retaliatory attacks in the Persian Gulf if Iran retaliates by attempting to choke off shipping.

"A strike would try to reduce as much of Iran's nuclear infrastructure as possible, recognizing it wouldn't be perfect or permanently eliminate it," said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and military expert at the Brookings Institution.

An air war such as that, with as many as 1,000 aircraft sorties over several days to a week, would likely destroy power plants and other infrastructure associated with Iran's nuclear facilities, O'Hanlon said. He estimates that would set back Iran's nuclear program, which it maintains are for peaceful purposes, from one to five years.

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