Barack Obama says the U.S. is in 'lockstep' with Israel on Iran's nuclear capability. Obama: U.S., Israel in 'lockstep'

President Barack Obama said Sunday that he’s committed to working in “lockstep” with Israel to try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, as concern is rising in the U.S. and overseas about a possible Israeli strike on Iran that could unleash violence across the Middle East.

Obama seemed eager to calm worries that Israel is on the brink of a pre-emptive attack, even as he continued to warn about the danger of Iran becoming a nuclear power.


“I don’t think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do,” Obama said during a six-minute, live interview from the White House during NBC’s Super Bowl pre-game show. “We are going to make sure that we work in lockstep, as we proceed to try to solve this — hopefully, diplomatically.”

Obama told NBC’s Matt Lauer that he believes expanded international sanctions on Iran are hurting the regime.

“They are feeling the pinch. They are feeling the pressure,” the president said. “But they have not taken the steps that they need to diplomatically to say ‘We will pursue peaceful nuclear power. We will not pursue a nuclear weapon.’ Until they do, I think Israel is going to be very concerned, and we are as well.”

Obama did not directly answer a question from Lauer about whether the U.S. has blessed any military action by Israel, nor would he say whether Israel has promised to warn the U.S. before carrying out a strike against Iran.

“I won’t go into the details of our conversations. I will say that we have closer military and intelligence consultation between our two countries than we ever have. And my number one priority continues to be the security of the United States, but also the security of Israel,” Obama said.

A series of published reports and statements from Israeli officials in the past week have raised concern that the Jewish state may act in the next few months to try to set back Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran insists is peaceful but outside experts believe is aimed at building nuclear weapons.

In response to a question from Lauer, Obama said he doubts that Iran is seeking to carry out attacks in the United States. “We don’t see any evidence that they have those intentions or capabilities right now,” the president said.

Obama’s statement was a curious one, since an intelligence community assessment that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper presented to Congress last week said that some Iranian leaders “are now more willing to conduct an attack in the United States in response to real or perceived U.S. actions that threaten the regime.”

Obama said he prefers a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, in part because of the potential impact a military confrontation could have on the U.S. economy and on U.S. troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

“But we’re not going to take any options off the table, and I’ve been very clear that we’re going to do everything we can to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” the president said.

Lauer did not ask Obama during the live interview about the violence Saturday in the Syrian city of Hama, where more than 200 people reportedly were killed by pro-regime forces.

But Lauer did remind Obama that in a Super Bowl interview in 2009, the president said that if he wasn’t “done” turning the economy around by now, he would not be reelected.

“I deserve a second term, but we’re not done,” Obama said Sunday. “When you and I sat down, we were losing 750,000 jobs a month. … Now we’re creating 250,000 [a month]. We created 3.7 million jobs over the last 23 months. We’ve created the most jobs since 2005, the most manufacturing jobs since the 1990s, but we’re not finished.”

Obama cited his efforts to create jobs in the manufacturing and energy fields, as well as the administration’s work to increase regulation on the financial markets and improve education so American workers will be better equipped for the future. He also warned, in vague terms, that solutions Republicans are offering are unwise.

“We’ve made progress,” Obama said. “The key right now is to make sure we don’t start turning in a new direction that could throw that progress off.”

As he buckles down for his reelection bid, Obama refused to pick sides in Sunday’s showdown between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. He suggested his reticence was the product of true uncertainty rather than political caution.

“I can’t call it. I think this is going to be one of them where it comes down to a turnover,” Obama said during the six-and-a-half hour pre-game broadcast. “I think this is going to be a tough game. Both teams have their weaknesses. They’re not a strong as they were a couple of years ago.”

Asked by Lauer, Obama said his daughters Malia and Sasha are not quite old enough to be putting up posters of heartthrobs like Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. And the president said he wouldn’t welcome that sort of thing.

“I may call some executive privilege and say that that’s not appropriate,” Obama joked.

First lady Michelle Obama also made an appearance during NBC’s Super Bowl coverage Sunday, in a pre-recorded segment about the National Football League’s “Play 60” program encouraging kids to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity daily. The NFL public service effort is a partner of “Let’s Move,” Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity.

Early in the pre-game show, the first lady was shown giving a White House tour to James Gale, an 11-year-old boy originally from Liberia who now lives in North Carolina. Gale won a “Play 60” contest and was picked to deliver the game ball onto the field during the Super Bowl.

More of the interview with Obama is set to air on NBC’s “Today” show Monday morning.