The White House says Israel and the United states are commited to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but there is still time to pursue diplomacy.

White House spokesman Jay Carney spoke with VOA Monday after an Israeli newspaper reported that Washington had approached Tehran to convey that it would not be dragged into a war if Israel attack Iran over its nuclear program.

“Well I can tell you that there is no daylight between the United States and Israel when it comes to the absolute need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That is the President's policy and he will use all aspects of American power towards the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.”

Carney also said President Barack Obama believes there is still time for diplomacy while pressuring Iran though sanctions. But he said that window “will not remain open forever” and stress that “all options remain on the table” to stop Iran from producing an atomic bomb.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday that the U.S. sent Iran an indirect message through two unidentified European nations “that it would not back an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities as long as Tehran refrains from attacking American interests in the Persian Gulf.”

Mr. Obama's Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, has accused the president of decreasing his support for U.S. allies, including Israel.

Officials say the U.S. is currently building a radar station in Qatar to defend U.S. interests and American allies from Iranian missiles. The U.S. is also organizing a minesweeping excercise in the Persian Gulf later this month in an effort to deter Iran from blocking oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.