JERUSALEM (AP) — Comments by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden about a possible Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities were directed at Iran and meant to “distinguish” the U.S. from Israel, the Israeli premier’s national security adviser said Wednesday.
Also, American leaders are signaling Iran that the U.S. is still interested in diplomatic engagement, the adviser, Uzi Arad, told The Associated Press,
Speaking to ABC-TV on Sunday, Biden appeared to depart from his previous comment that an Israeli attack on Iran would be ill-advised, saying: “Israel can determine for itself — it’s a sovereign nation — what’s in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else.”
The following day, Obama in a visit to Moscow was asked by CNN if Biden’s comment’s represented the U.S. giving Israel a “green light” to attack.
“Absolutely not,” the president replied.
The next day, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, warned that a military strike to thwart Iran’s nuclear weapons capability could have grave and unpredictable consequences. Iran has denied trying to build nuclear bombs. >>>
