This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/05/obama-iran-israel-nuclear-military-strike

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Obama: US and Israel 'in lockstep' to stop Iran becoming nuclear power Obama: US and Israel 'in lockstep' to stop Iran becoming nuclear power
(about 9 hours later)
Barack Obama has said that the United States will work in "lockstep" with Israel to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, but he did not believe Israel had decided whether to launch a military strike.Barack Obama has said that the United States will work in "lockstep" with Israel to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, but he did not believe Israel had decided whether to launch a military strike.
The US president's comments appeared to be an attempt to downplay speculation that Israel was preparing to attack Iran following a report last week that the US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, believes an Israeli strike could happen this spring.The US president's comments appeared to be an attempt to downplay speculation that Israel was preparing to attack Iran following a report last week that the US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, believes an Israeli strike could happen this spring.
Obama told NBC television in an interview from the White House on Sunday that Israel is "rightly" very concerned about Iran's nuclear program, but said: "I don't think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do".Obama told NBC television in an interview from the White House on Sunday that Israel is "rightly" very concerned about Iran's nuclear program, but said: "I don't think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do".
He said that he hopes that the crisis will be resolved diplomatically but reiterated that the US has removed no option from consideration.He said that he hopes that the crisis will be resolved diplomatically but reiterated that the US has removed no option from consideration.
Asked about a potential attack by Iran on the US minlanbd, Obama said, "We don't see any evidence that they have those intentions or capabilities right now." Asked about a potential attack by Iran on the US mainland, Obama said, "We don't see any evidence that they have those intentions or capabilities right now."
Tensions between Israel and Iran have continued to ratchet up in recent days. The Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak claimed on Thursday that there is a "wide global understanding" that military action may be needed, while Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Israel on Friday a "cancerous tumor that should be cut [out] and will bet". Tensions between Israel and Iran have continued to ratchet up in recent days. The Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak claimed on Thursday that there is a "wide global understanding" that military action may be needed, while Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called Israel on Friday a "cancerous tumour that should be cut and will be cut".
Meanwhile, Obama said during the same interview that he deserves re-election, despite the difficulties of the US economy, adding that his administration is creating more than 250,000 jobs a month, the most since 2005, and a reversal from the 750,000 jobs the economy was losing three years ago.Meanwhile, Obama said during the same interview that he deserves re-election, despite the difficulties of the US economy, adding that his administration is creating more than 250,000 jobs a month, the most since 2005, and a reversal from the 750,000 jobs the economy was losing three years ago.
The president said US manufacturing still needs a boost: "We have got to make sure we are pushing American energy, not just oil and gas, but clean energy."The president said US manufacturing still needs a boost: "We have got to make sure we are pushing American energy, not just oil and gas, but clean energy."
Obama also said the country needed to return to "old-fashioned American values," so "everyone gets a fair shake".Obama also said the country needed to return to "old-fashioned American values," so "everyone gets a fair shake".
Three years ago, Obama had said if the economy hadn't turned around by this time, his presidency would be "a one-term proposition".Three years ago, Obama had said if the economy hadn't turned around by this time, his presidency would be "a one-term proposition".