BICOM

US President Barack Obama said yesterday that Israel had not decided whether it will strike Iran, but added if tensions escalate this spring, no options would be taken off the table. ‘I don’t think Israel has made a decision,’ Obama said in the president’s traditional pre-Super Bowl interview.  Obama stressed, however, that the US would work in ‘lockstep’ with Israel to resolve the situation using diplomacy. ‘[Israel], like us, believe[s] that Iran has to stand down on its nuclear weapons programme,’ he said. ‘We are going to be sure that we work in lockstep as we proceed to try to solve this — hopefully diplomatically,’ the President added.

Obama also said Iran is ‘feeling the pinch’ following the passing of ‘unprecedented’ new tougher European and US sanctions. Obama also noted close US ‘intelligence and military consultations’ with Israel. The President’s comments come after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters last week there is a growing likelihood Israel could attack Iran in the spring.

In other news on Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Ganz, and Defence Minister Ehud Barak approved the appointment of Amir Eshel as the next head of Israel’s Air Force. A couple of weeks ago reports in the Israeli media surfaced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gantz were presenting opposing opinions regarding the identity of the next Air Force commander. According to reports, the PM was pushing for the appointment of Yochanan Locker, who is believed to support an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, Gantz wanted Eshel, who is reportedly more cautious on the Iranian issue, to take the post.