Can diplomacy stop Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons?

Barack Obama
President Barack Obama gestures during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 6, 2012.
Charles Dharapak/AP

President Barack Obama declared Tuesday that diplomacy can still resolve the crisis over Iran's possible pursuit of nuclear weapons, and he accused his Republican critics of "beating the drums of war."

"Those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities," Obama said. "They are not commander in chief."

Tension with Iran, and Obama's preference for restraint, dominated his first full news conference of the year, held on the same day that Republican Super Tuesday voting was drawing attention as well.

Stephen Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University will join The Daily Circuit Wednesday to talk about the threat of a nuclear Iran, that country's relationship with Israel and how it will play out in the 2012 election. Barbara Slavin, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center and Washington correspondent for Al-Monitor.com, will also join the discussion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video: Obama Hopeful for Diplomatic Solution for Iran

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