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New Sanctions on Iran Intended to Ratchet Up Pressure, but Could They Ease Israeli Stress?
New sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Iran are intended to ratchet up the pressure on Tehran -- and perhaps take down the temperature of Israel, which is clearly worried about Iran's accelerated pursuit of nuclear weapons.
In an interview that aired Monday, President Obama said he wants to exhaust all non-military means and lower the heat in the Mideast.
"We have done extensive planning on all our various options in the Gulf. We are prepared to exercise these options should the need arise," Obama told NBC. "But my goal is to try to solve this diplomatically, mainly because the only way to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapon is to make them understand it's not in their interest."