Jerusalem ( CNN ) -- Israel 's president conceded Tuesday his country may disagree with the White House at times over Iran 's nuclear progress , but said he is `` free of doubts '' that U.S. President Barack Obama would use military force if necessary to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb . Iran is the top issue as Obama heads here for meetings with Israeli officials , including President Shimon Peres and , more importantly , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Obama to Israel : Low expectations but lots of questions . The prime minister has at times voiced concerns Washington has a less urgent view than Israel 's of Iran 's progress toward developing a nuclear warhead . But he has welcomed the administration 's more muscular language of late that `` all options '' are on the table and that its policy is to prevent -- not contain -- a nuclear Iran . Israeli officials took it as no coincidence that as he prepared for this trip , Obama told an Israeli TV station he believed there was still a year or so before Iran reached the final development stage -- suggesting he believes there is more time for diplomacy than the Israeli prime minister would like . On eve of Israel trip , Obama tells Iran to disarm . The Israeli presidency is a ceremonial position , but Peres is a father figure in politics here , and it was clear from his tone in the interview his overriding goal of the next few days is to project an image of close co-operation between the two allies . `` I do believe that the United States is following carefully the time and the progress , '' Peres said of the most recent Obama assessment of Iran . `` So a year is an estimation , '' Peres told CNN in an interview at his residence . `` If something were to happen earlier , I am sure we will pay attention to the change . `` The main question you asked me , and the real answer I am giving you -- I trust what the president says . I am free of doubts . I think he is a man of values . He is a man that I respect his words . And he is a man that thinks before he speaks . '' Ambassador : Trip signals Obama 's ties with Israel . The clear threat of military action is designed to pressure Iran to negotiate a diplomatic settlement , but some Obama critics have voiced doubt Tehran takes seriously the threat of American military action . Asked if he believed Tehran viewed the White House `` all options '' approach as serious , Peres said : `` That I am not sure . I am not sure whether the relations between Iran and the truth are so intimate . I think they are capable of bluffing others and bluffing themselves . '' He played down disagreements between U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments of Iran 's progress toward a bomb . `` There may be some differences in timing , but basically we support the policy of the president of the United States , '' Peres said .
Peres believes Israel would use military force if necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran . Israeli president says he trusts Obama and ` ` I respect his words '' Obama says it will be a year before Iran reaches final development stage of nuke . Threat of military action designed to pressure Iran to negotiate a diplomatic settlement .