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The United States has ordered the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans for nuclear strikes against seven countries, according to a leaked report.

Entitled Nuclear Posture Review and sent to Congress in January, the document reveals that the Pentagon is preparing for possible use of nuclear weapons against China, Russia, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria.

It cites three situations in which weapons could be used: against targets able to withstand a conventional attack; in retaliation for an attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons; or "in the event of surprising military developments".

Pentagon officials have said publicly they are also exploring ways to modify existing nuclear warheads to destroy underground bunkers and other "hardened" targets that countries such as Iraq might use to hide chemical, biological or nuclear arms. Until now, it has been US policy not to consider using nuclear weapons except as retaliation for a nuclear strike or in exceptional cases during wartime.

Douglas Feith, US undersecretary of defence, said the effect of the review was to make the use of nuclear weapons less likely. "If we have an effective military, our allies are not going to feel they are under any compulsion to develop their own nuclear weapons," he said.

The contents of the report, leaked to the Los Angeles Times, emerged as Tony Blair faced a growing backbench rebellion against action on Iraq.

Glenda Jackson, the former minister, said it would be "immoral" to go to war without incontrovertible evidence that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

Alan Simpson, one of more than 60 Labour MPs who have signed a Commons motion opposing war in Iraq, said Mr Blair's leadership was being questioned at Westminster.

Many MPs are speculating that Robin Cook, the Leader of the House, is the Cabinet minister who has hinted that he might resign. Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, is also cautious about widening the war on terrorism.

However, Charles Clarke, Labour Party chairman, tried to halt speculation of a Cabinet and backbench revolt by reassuring MPs that Mr Blair would be urging caution on Mr Bush, and would call on the US to maintain the international coalition for the war on terrorism.

"The reports of a Cabinet split on this are completely wrong. Tony Blair's position is quite simply that the US must internationalise and work with other people in the world community to achieve the goals we have on terrorism," Mr Clarke said. Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, will get the same message when he sees Mr Blair tomorrow.

The US administration is understood to be furious with Chris Patten, the EU commissioner, for condemning Mr Bush's "axis of evil" speech, which indicated that Washington was planning action against Iraq. That was followed in the past week by concerted briefings from the White House about option papers for action on Iraq being studied by the President.

Iraq's Vice-President, Taha Yassin Ramadan, accused the US and Britain yesterday of wanting arms inspectors back in Iraq to "find excuses to launch a fresh attack" and "manufacture a new crisis".