The United States should impose "significant sanctions" against Iran to keep it from producing a nuclear weapon, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on Sunday.

He wasn't surprised by a report in The New York Times on Sunday about a secret memo in which Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned the White House the United States lacked an effective, long-term U. S. policy to deal with Iran's nuclear program, McCain said on "Fox News Sunday."

McCain said, "I didn't need a secret memo from Mr. Gates to ascertain that. We do not have a coherent policy. I think that's pretty obvious."

He supported sanctions on refined petroleum, even if it meant going forward without Russia and China, McCain further added.

He said, "We keep threatening sanctions. We keep, for well over a year now, in fact, including the previous administration, we keep threatening. And obviously, we have not done anything that would in any way be viewed effective. … We have to be willing to pull the trigger on significant sanctions. And then we have to make plans for whatever contingencies follow if those sanctions are not effective."

"I think, obviously, every contingency has to be on the table," McCain answered when asked if U. S. officials should consider military action.

It was also said by him that the United States must "stand up for the human rights of the people of Iran. Put the pictures of those people who were brutalizing and killing and torturing the demonstrators and the people who are standing up for their God-given rights. Make them famous. We did that in certain respects during the Cold War." (With Inputs from Agencies)