But Obama’s blind faith in Ayatollah Khamenei is realistic?

WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama is delivering a speech at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy’s 10th annual Saban Forum, titled, Power Shifts: US-Israel Relations in a Dynamic Middle East.

Addressing the issue of nuclear Iran, Obama said: “What we do have to test is the possibility that we can resolve this issue diplomatically.”

“Iran cannot… will not advance its (nuclear) program,” the US president noted.

“But I want to make sure everybody understands it – that particular option is not available, so as a consequence, what we have to do is make a decision as to given the options available what is the best way for us to assure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon?”

Obama said the agreement halts and rolls back central elements of Iran’s program. It compels Iran to eliminate higher-enriched uranium stockpiles, stop adding new centrifuges and cease work at a heavy water reactor that potentially could produce plutonium.

“If we could create an option in which Iran eliminated every single nut and bolt of their nuclear program and foreswore the possibility of ever having a nuclear program and for that matter got rid of all its military capabilities, I would take it,” Obama said.

“One can envision an ideal world in which Iran said ‘we will destroy every element or facility and you name it it is all gone.'”

But he said: “I think we have to be more realistic and ask ourselves what puts us in a strong position to assure ourselves that Iran is not having a nuclear weapon.”

The president also acknowledged some tactical differences with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said the US and Israeli bottom-line goals are the same.

“Now, you’ll hear arguments including potentially from the (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) that says we can’t accept any enrichment on Iranian soil, period, full stop, end of conversation,” Obama said, “But … I think we have to be more realistic.”