Obama has a military option plan against Iran -- a "joint U.S.-Israeli surgical strike," and he should communicate it to diffuse comments from Romney that he has not been tough enough on Iran and has not issued a "red line," according to a report published Monday in Foreign Policy.

David Rothkopf, CEO and editor at large of Foreign Policy and former Clinton administration official, writes that in light of Republican contender Mitt Romney's comments as well as doubts from Obama supporters about his willingness to take military action against Iran, the administration should communicate its planned military option that would be carried out by either a joint operation or the U.S. alone.

Quoting an unnamed source, Rothkopf says that the "surgical strike" would only take "a couple of hours" and would be carried out by an air campaign of bombers and drones.

Because this mission would be "more limited and doable," it will be more palatable to the American public, and its threat should be used as a "useful diplomatic tool," Rothkopf adds.