WASHINGTON —President Barack Obama sought to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that he would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, but their meeting concluded with U.S. officials unsure whether the president had succeeded in persuading the Israelis to hold off on unilateral military action.
The leaders met for about two hours in the Oval Office at a crucial juncture in Obama’s effort to restrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions and win the trust of Israel, his closest ally in the Middle East. Israeli officials afterward called the talks “positive” and said both sides agreed on the need for continuing economic and political pressure on Iran.
Administration officials said Obama made clear to Netanyahu that his policy is not to contain an Iranian nuclear arsenal but to prevent Iran’s leaders from developing one. In making his case for diplomacy over a military strike, Obama also assured Netanyahu that Israel had the right to act in its own national security interests.
“Our assessment is that they have not made a decision,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. “While I can’t say for sure that we bought time, I think they certainly feel more assured about our intentions. They can say and feel that the ball had moved forward in that respect.”
In public and private statements in recent days, Obama urged Israel to refrain from a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, a move that many in the administration fear would set off a regional war in the volatile Middle East. Such a conflict in the oil-rich region would send gasoline prices even higher.
A few months would allow for the full array of economic sanctions to take effect against Iran this summer, including an embargo on its lifeblood oil industry and banking sector. That time also would help preserve the international coalition that is aligned against Iran’s nuclear program — a fragile diplomatic front that administration officials say would shatter if Israel strikes prematurely.
“We do believe that there is a window that allows for a diplomatic resolution to this issue, but ultimately the Iranians’ regime has to make a decision to move in that direction, a decision they have not made thus far,” Obama said, with Netanyahu sitting at his side. “I reserve all options, and my policy here is not going to be one of containment. My policy is prevention of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.”
Before the Oval Office meeting, Netanyahu said, “Americans know that Israel and the United States share common values, that we defend common interests, that we face common enemies. Iran’s leaders know that too. For them, you’re the Great Satan, we’re the Little Satan. For them, we are you, and you’re us.”
Israeli officials described the talks, which included a half-hour session between just the two leaders, as cordial. Obama and Netanyahu expressed resolve about preventing the emergence of a nuclear-armed Iran and promised an “open channel” going forward, a senior Israeli diplomat said.
Obama also publicly assured Netanyahu that the United States “will always have Israel’s back” when it comes to security.
