Politics | Rick Santorum 2012 Santorum: I'm Ready to Bomb Iran Republican presidential candidate wants inspectors in Tehran By Neal Colgrass Posted Jan 1, 2012 2:09 PM CST Copied Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks at a town hall meeting at Redman's Pizza in Osceola, Iowa, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) See 1 more photo Surging in the Iowa polls, Rick Santorum said today he would bomb Iran's nuclear plants if international inspectors aren't allowed inside, the Wall Street Journal reports. "You can't go out and say, 'This is what I'm for,' and then do nothing," Santorum said on Meet the Press. "You become a paper tiger." The outspoken social conservative made his remarks as Iran announced its first nuclear fuel rod and tested missiles near the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions are also rising over new sanctions on Iran's central bank signed by President Obama. Read These Next A game of doorbell ditch turns fatal for 11-year-old. Guy accused of snatching hat from boy at US Open IDed as rich CEO. At Colorado airport: collision, flames, death. Robert Mueller's family makes a surprise revelation. See 1 more photo Report an error