US President Barack Obama has said he prefers to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but he made clear that he will not "hesitate to use force" when necessary to defend the US and its interests.
Obama also said in a speech to a powerful pro-Israel organisation on Sunday that "there is too much loose talk of war" these days amid concern about a possible pre-emptive Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
He appealed to Israel for more time to let sanctions further isolate Iran and sought to halt a drumbeat to war and hold off a unilateral Israeli attack.
"For the sake of Israel's security, America's security and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster," Obama told thousands at the annual American-Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) policy conference.
"Now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in, and to sustain the broad international coalition that we have built."
Israeli appreciation
Quoting President Theodore Roosevelt, Obama said he would "speak softly, but carry a big stick" - and warned Iran not to test US resolve.
Obama's widely anticipated speech came one day before he meets at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who planned to address AIPAC late Monday.
Speaking in Canada before his visit to Washington for talks with Obama on Monday, Netanyahu expressed satisfaction that Obama refused to rule out military force against Iran.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/201234163229505807.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/201234163229505807.html
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