|
Trending Topics
|
Source: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2013/12/20131207288605.html#axzz2msHNpXp4
Obama: A Verifiable, Diplomatic Solution for Iran Is Preferred
(U.S. State Department) President Barack Obama told the Saban Forum at the Brookings Institution on Saturday: "It is in America's national security interests, not just Israel's national interests or the region's national security interests, to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon....The best way for us to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapons is for a comprehensive, verifiable, diplomatic resolution, without taking any other options off the table if we fail to achieve that." "It is important for us to test that proposition during the next six months, understanding that while we're talking, they're not secretly improving their position or changing circumstances on the ground inside of Iran. And if at the end of six months it turns out that we can't make a deal, we're no worse off, and in fact we have greater leverage with the international community to continue to apply sanctions and even strengthen them." "Iran is engaging in a whole bunch of other behavior in the Middle East and around the world that is detrimental to the United States and detrimental to Israel. And we will continue to contest their efforts where they're engaging in terrorism, where they're being disruptive to our friends and our allies." "Israel cannot contract out its security. In light of the history that the people of Israel understand all too well, they have to make sure that they are making their own assessments about what they need to do to protect themselves. And we respect that."