Nuclear Iran dangerous for the world: Obama

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran is more than a year away from developing a nuclear weapon, but that does not mean the United States will wait for it to become a reality, President Barack Obama said in an interview that aired Thursday, March 14, on an Israeli television station, according to CNN.

"I have been crystal clear about my position on Iran possessing a nuclear weapon. That is a red line for us. It is not only something that would be dangerous for Israel. It would be dangerous for the world," Obama told CNN affiliate Israeli Channel 2 TV before a scheduled visit next week to the country.

"...I've also said there is a window - not an infinite period time, but a window of time - where we can resolve this diplomatically."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Obama to establish a clear line that Iran cannot cross with its nuclear program, if it wants to avoid war.

Obama has resisted such a move, and Netanyahu has shown growing impatience with what he has previously called a lack of clarity by the Obama administration on articulating red lines over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

U.S. intelligence officials have said they do not believe Iran has decided to develop a nuclear weapon, even as evidence continues to mount that the country is improving its ability to do so. Iran denies that it aims to build a nuclear bomb, saying that its nuclear program is for energy and medical use.

"Right now, we think that it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon," Obama told Channel 2. The interview was conducted Wednesday in Washington, the channel said.

"But obviously, we don't want to cut it too close. What we are going to do is to continue to engage internationally with Iran."

Obama also said he believes that the international economic sanctions, some of the "strongest" ever imposed against Tehran, are having an effect on the country.

"They are not yet at the point, I think, where they've made a fundamental decision to get right with the international community," the president said. "But I do think they are recognizing that there is a severe cost for them to continue down the path they are on and that there's another door open."

Obama said his message to Netanyahu during his visit to Israel would be much the same as it has previously been.

"If we can resolve it diplomatically, that's a more lasting solution. If not, I continue to keep all options on the table," he said.

When pushed during the interview to define those options, the president responded: "When I say all options are on the table, all options are on the table. The United States obviously has significant capabilities."

He said the goal is to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel or trigger a possible arms race in the region.