Obama warns against premature Iran strike
But talks tough and says US does not bluff; Netanyahu in Washington for crucial talks
WASHINGTON, March 3, (AFP) - US President Barack Obama warned today against a premature attack on Iran, while Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country had the right to self-defence and needed room to manoeuvre.
But in an apparent nod to Netanyahu ahead of key White House talks on Monday, Obama said if sanctions failed to curb Tehran's atomic ambitions, US military action against Iranian nuclear facilities should not be ruled out.
“I think that the Israeli government recognizes that, as president of the United States, I don't bluff,” Oba- ma told the Atlantic Monthly magazine in remarks published Friday.
“I also don't, as a matter of sound policy, go around advertising exactly what our intentions are. But I think both the Iranian and the Israeli governments recognize that when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say.” US strategy included isolating Tehran politically, sanctions and diplomacy, Obama said.
“And it includes a military component. And I think people understand that,” he added. On his way to Washington, Netanyahu arrived Friday in Canada against a backdrop of fears that Israel could unilaterally strike suspected Iranian nuclear sites.
Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper dur- ing a visit to parliament in Ottawa, Netanyahu had tough words but was careful not to appear to be pressuring his US ally.
“I have not set red lines and we are not seeking to set red lines to the United States,” he said in Hebrew.
“We do ask to reserve the freedom of action of the state of Israel in the face of threats to wipe us off the map. I think that is something that any state would demand for itself.”tehran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, but Western nations suspect Iran is trying to secretly develop atomic weapons and is close to achieving its goal.