Biden was interviewed Sunday by ABC-TV. He said, "Israel can determine for itself _ it's a sovereign nation _ what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else."

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Monday that Biden's comments were "very logical." He said that although the two allies sometimes have disagreements, "at the end of the day the decision is ours."

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program, long-range missiles and references by its president to the destruction of Israel. Iran denies building nuclear weapons.