Benjamin Netanyahu has also used his U.S. trip to push the Obama administration to consider carrying out a military strike against Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu: “The only time that Iran suspended its nuclear program was for a brief period during 2003, when the regime believed it faced a credible threat of military action against it. And the simple paradox is this: if the international community, led by the United States, hopes to stop Iran’s nuclear program without resorting to military action, it will have to convince Iran that it is prepared to take such action. ”

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has rejected Israel’s claim that military force is the only way to deter Iran.

Robert Gates: “That said, we are convinced that non-military actions, including most significantly the most recent UN Security Council resolution and the individual countries’ approval of even more rigorous sanctions, including, I might say, Australia, is bringing pressure to bear on the Iranian government that is getting their attention. We know that they are concerned about the impact of the sanctions. The sanctions are biting more deeply than they anticipated. And we are working very hard at this.”