by Kevin Bohn

President Barack Obama said on Thursday that he will not engage in any “chest beating” over Iran’s nuclear program, but plans to issue a “clear and direct” challenge to Tehran during his upcoming Middle East trip, according to sources familiar with his comments.

Obama said at a White House meeting with Jewish American leaders that he will still work toward a diplomatic resolution with Iran over its nuclear program, but repeated that no options are off the table, including military ones, one of the sources said.

Those in attendance included representatives of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, B’nai B’rith, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, J Street and the National Jewish Democratic Council…more.