Ahead of his first presidential visit to Israel next week, President Barack Obama believes Iran is “over a year or so” away from being able to develop a nuclear weapon, declaring that the United States is determined to prevent that from happening.
Sticking to the long-held US position that “all options are on the table”, Obama said: “When I’m consulting with Bibi (Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, as I have over the last several years on this issue, my message to him will be the same as before: If we can resolve it diplomatically that is a more lasting solution. But if not, I continue to keep all options on the table.”
In an interview to Israel’s Channel 2 television network, Obama said: “Right now, we think it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon, but obviously we don’t want to cut it too close.” “They (Iran) are not yet at the point I think where they’ve made a fundamental decision to get right with the international community, but I do think that they’re recognising that there’s a severe cost for them to continue on the path that they’re on and that there’s another door open,” Obama said.
At a separate White House briefing, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said that President Obama has been clear about “our red line that we will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon”.
“The President has made clear -- publicly and privately -- that we reject the policy of containment, because of the consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran for Israel, for the region, for the nonproliferation regime, and for the world. He has made clear that we will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and that means we’re looking at all options, including military options,” Rhodes said.
Israeli leader Netanyahu, as one dead-set against giving Tehran a long rope on the nuclear issue, has periodically threatened unilateral strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, but Obama has counselled him for patience and sought more time to see if diplomatic efforts succeed – a course that has not gone down well with American conservative opinion, with several of its leaders even questioning his commitment to Israeli security.
During the US presidential campaign last year, Obama came under incessant attack from Republican challenger Mitt Romney for not having visited Israel since entering the White House in 2009.
As it turns out, Israel will now be the country that Obama visits first during his second term. At his briefing, Rhodes termed the visit “an important opportunity for the President to consult with the Israeli government on the broad range of issues where we cooperate”.
“The President has a very strong record of support for Israel and its security, but we also understand that there is no substitute for the President of the United States going to Israel and delivering that message directly to the Israeli people. And so, he is particularly looking forward to the opportunity to spend some time with the people of Israel and to tell them directly about what guides his approach to this relationship,” Rhodes said.