JOIN USUS President Barack Obama has said that Israel has not made a decision yet on attacking Iran's nuclear installations, noting that he still prefers to use diplomacy.
"I do not think Israel has taken a decision on what they need to do," Obama told the NBC news in an interview aired during the Super Bowl event Sunday.
Full portion of the interview would be telecast tomorrow.Obama said he believes that the tough international sanctions are hurting the Iranian regime.
"We have mobilized the international community in an unprecedented way. They are feeling the pinch. They are feeling the pressure," he said.
Until Iran commit itself to peaceful use of nuclear energy and leaves its nuclear weapon programme, both the US are Israel are going to be very concerned about it.
"We (US and Israel) have closure military and intelligence consultations than we ever had. My number one priority continues to be the security of the United States, but also the security of Israel. We are going to make sure that we work in lockstep, as we proceed to try to solve this — hopefully, diplomatically," Obama said.
Responding to questions, Obama said his administration currently sees that Iran neither has the intention nor the capability to attack the United States.
"Our goal is to resolve this issue diplomatically. But we are not going to take off any options of the table though," he said.
"Our preferred solution is diplomatically," he said, adding that the US is determined to do anything it can to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and clearly a nuclear arms race in the region.
Obama said that "any kind of additional military activity inside the Gulf is disruptive. And has a big effect on us. It can affect oil prices."