New York, Apr 6 (EFE).- The preliminary agreement negotiated among six big international powers and Iran is the “best option” for ensuring that Tehran does not develop a nuclear bomb, U.S. President Barack Obama said in an interview published Monday in The New York Times.

The framework agreement, the details of which must be worked out before July 1, is “the best option for us to protect ourselves” and keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon, said Obama, who called the pact a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The president, however, at the same time expressed a message of support for Israel, whose government has been very critical of the result of the international talks with Tehran.

“What we will be doing even as we enter into this deal is sending a very clear message to the Iranians and to the entire region that if anybody messes with Israel, America will be there,” he said.

Obama said that he respects the security concerns expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vis-a-vis Iran, but he added that nothing in the pact endangers Israel.

“I would consider it a failure on my part, a fundamental failure of my presidency, if on my watch or as a consequence of work that I’ve done, Israel was rendered more vulnerable,” Obama said.

The agreement, many of the details of which remain to be negotiated by July 1, has also received harsh criticism in the United States from Republicans, who want Congress to have the final word on its approval.

In his interview with the Times, Obama rejected that option, but he left the door open for a non-binding vote.

He said that his hope is that a method can be found that will allow Congress to express itself but which does not encroach upon traditional presidential prerogatives and which ensures that if a good pact can be worked out it can be approved and implemented.

Obama also said that if the pact is finally concluded, it may strengthen more moderate figures on the Iranian political scene.

“Who knows? Iran may change,” he said, while making clear that if that does not happen, the United States will continue to have the ability to respond militarily, if need be.

“We’re not relinquishing our capacity to defend ourselves or our allies,” the president added.

On April 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Yavad Zarif and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a framework agreement between Tehran and the 5+1 Group, including the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. EFE