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Q Thanks, Jay. The other day in the gaggle you declined to comment on intelligence issues regarding the NIE issue. On Israel and Iran, there's obviously a lot of discussion that continues on this with Defense Minister Barak saying that the latest estimate, which apparently everyone is looking at there, comes very close to our own estimate; it transforms the situation to an even more urgent one. But I guess I want to ask you more gently -- can you comment on whether there's any daylight at this point between Israel and the U.S. concerning Iran's nuclear program? The NSC spokesman, I noted this morning, came out and said, "We continue to assess that Iran is not on the verge of achieving a nuclear weapon." So would you repeat that here?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I would tell you that we work very closely with our Israeli counterparts on this issue. We share information as a matter of course. And we share an assessment of where Iran is and what its capacities are and what timelines look like.

I won't address reports on intelligence assessments. But I can tell you, broadly, that we are very much in agreement about Iran's ambitions, Iran's program, and about Iran's failure, thus far, to live up to its international obligations -- which is why we have taken the lead in a broad international effort to impose upon Iran the stiffest, most severe sanctions ever imposed upon a country. And that effort continues day by day and week by week as we pressure the regime into, hopefully, changing course, changing behavior, rejoining the community of nations, and abiding by its obligations under a variety of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

I would also say that we believe there continues to be the time and space to pursue this course. It is the best course of action to ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. We take no options off the table, and we consult with our allies all the time about the situation in Iran with regards to its program.

I would also say that we have eyes, we have visibility into the program, and we would know if and when Iran made a -- what's called a "breakout move" towards acquiring a weapon. So we have the capacity to judge that as the regime, the sanctions regime continues to be implemented.

Q So whatever assessments are circulating, whether in Israel or here are being assessed, does it address the question of the immunity zone that the Israelis are so concerned about?

MR. CARNEY: Again, I'm not going to get into what intelligence assessments might or might not say. I would simply say that we work very closely with the Israelis. We share a view of where Iran is. And it is our firm belief that there is time and space to pursue the diplomatic option that includes extremely and increasingly aggressive sanctions, includes diplomatic isolation and international condemnation. And we will continue that effort.

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Q Jay, you talked pretty confidently about having eyes on and visibility in two of the Iranian nuclear programs.

MR. CARNEY: Well, there are IAEA inspectors, as you know.

Q But yesterday -- I think it was yesterday -- the Israeli defense minister said that, actually, it's getting harder to tell what's going on inside the Iranian nuclear program. And I'm wondering if you can reconcile those two comments. As of today, you're not concerned about a degradation of the intelligence coming in on that program?

MR. CARNEY: I'm not going to get into specific details about intelligence. I would simply note that we have -- there are international inspectors, and that we feel confident that we would be able to detect a breakout move by Iran towards the acquisition of a nuclear weapon.

Thanks.

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