Israeli Prime Minister pleased with U.S. support; talks of Iran nuclear weapons continue
AIPAC, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee, was addressed by President Barack Obama yesterday where he assured the audience that the U.S. would stand by Israel, and the president expressed his concern over Iran having nuclear weapons.
During his AIPAC speech, Obama “urged continued use of sanctions, travel restrictions and efforts to choke off the Iranian regime,” said CBS, in order to keep Iran from having nuclear weapons. “Iran’s leaders should understand that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the president said at AIPAC. He does not want to jump into any military action if it is not necessary and wanted to squash any rumors of it, “I only use force when the time and circumstances demand it. Already, there is too much loose talk of war.” The President continued during his AIPAC speech, “I have said that when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, I will take no options off the table, and I mean what I say.”
The AIPAC conference came one day before Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White House to further discuss Iran. According to CBS, Netanyahu spoke in Canada with a positive attitude towards President Obama speech at the AIPAC convention, “I very much appreciate the fact that President Obama reiterated his positions that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and that all options are on the table.”
Apparently the two leaders have not had the smoothest relationship, and the issues with Iran have caused tensions to rise; Netanyahu would prefer the U.S. “to take a stronger stance and recognize Israel’s right to strike Iran,” said CBS.
