Iran n-weapon will take a year: Obama

President Barack Obama told an Israeli television station Thursday that his administration believed it would take Iran over a year or so to develop a nuclear weapon,and he vowed that the United States would do whatever was necessary to prevent that from happening.

Less than a week before his first visit as president to Israel,Obama pledged to continue diplomatic efforts,but he promised that the United States would keep all options on the table to ensure that Iran did not become a nuclear threat to its neighbors.

Right now,we think it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon,but obviously we dont want to cut it too close, Obama told the Israeli station,Channel 2 TV. He said his message to Benjamin Netanyahu,the Israeli prime minister,will be the same as before: If we can resolve it diplomatically,that is a more lasting solution.

But if not,I continue to keep all options on the table, he added.