Jerusalem, Jan. 19 : Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak has said that his country’s decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities is still “very far off”.

Seeking to allay U. S. concerns that Israel is preparing for an attack despite Washington’s objections, Barak told Army Radio on the eve of a visit to Israel by the chairman of the U. S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Martin Dempsey, that: “We haven’t made a decision to go ahead with this matter. We have no date for making decisions. The whole thing is very far off.”

The Washington Post further quoted him, as saying: “I don’t want to provide estimates. It’s certainly not urgent. I don’t suggest that we deal with this as if it’s about to happen tomorrow.”

Barak added that Washington and Israel “respect one another’s freedom of decision.”

U. S. officials are reportedly pushing Israel to allow time for international sanctions on Iran to take effect.

Gen. Dempsey’s visit comes a week after President Obama discussed the issue in a telephone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (ANI)