U.S. President Barack Obama told the UN General Assembly Tuesday that there is still time for diplomacy when it comes to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while underscoring that the U.S. would not tolerate a nuclear armed Iran.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English)U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Let me be clear: America wants to resolve this issue through diplomacy, and we believe that there is still time and space to do so. But that time is not unlimited."<br/> <br />Obama said the U.S. will never let Iran develop an atomic bomb and then simply contain the problem.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English)U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Make no mistake: a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained. It would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear-arms race in the region, and the unraveling of the non-proliferation treaty. That is why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable. And that is why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."<br/> <br />But the Obama administration has stopped short of meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand to set a clear "red line" that Iran must not cross if it is to avoid military action.
