article_snippet.sent: President Barack Obama insisted the Middle East would stand by Israel if the Middle East were to come under attack, but acknowledged that President Barack Obama pursuit of diplomacy with Tehran has caused strain with the close ally. '
article_snippet.sent: It's been a hard period,' President Barack Obama said in a weekend interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.
article_snippet.sent: President Barack Obama added that it is 'personally difficult' for President Barack Obama to hear President Barack Obama administration accused of not looking out for Israel's interests.
article_snippet.sent: We are powerful enough to be able to test these propositions without putting We at risk,' his said, citing his overtures to Cuba and Myanmar as other examples of his approach.
article_snippet.sent: should understand that we mean it,' Obama said in the interview published Sunday. '
article_snippet.sent: Obama said there are many details that still need to be worked out with the Iranians and cautioned that there would be 'real political difficulties' in implementing an agreement in both countries.
article_snippet.sent: Obama reiterated Obama opposition to a legislation that would give the U.S. Congress final say in approving or rejecting a deal, but said Obama hoped to find a path to allow Congress to 'express itself.'
article_snippet.sent: Pictured above is the nation's president, Hassan Rouhani .
article_snippet.sent: The White House plans an aggressive campaign to sell the deal to Congress, as well as to skeptical Arab allies who worry about Iran's destabilizing activity in the region.
article_snippet.sent: Obama has invited leaders of six Gulf nations to Washington this spring and said Obama wanted to 'formalize' U.S. assistance.
article_snippet.sent: Obama is yet to meet with Iranian President Hasan Rouhani, though they did speak on the phone.
article_snippet.sent: Obama has also exchanged letters with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
article_snippet.sent: Obama said letters with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei include 'a lot of reminders of what Obama perceives as past grievances against Iran.'
highlights_snippet.sent: Admitted that the discussions had taken a toll on U.S.-Israeli ties .