U.S. President Barack Obama has convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to afford some time for the international sanctions imposed on Iran to work, sources in the U.S. administration told the New York Times Thursday, Feb 8.

According to the report, it was that agreement that inspired Obama's confidence when he recently told NBC that "I don't think that Israel has made a decision on what they need to do. I think they, like us, believe that Iran has to stand down on its nuclear weapons program." Jerusalem and Washington are divided when it comes to the question of whether Iran's nuclear facilities will soon become "strike-proof."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak noted recently that there is a need to act against Iran before it moves its entire nuclear operation to underground facilities.

The NYT quoted administration sources as saying that the communication between the Prime Minister's Office and the Oval Office has improved, despite the ongoing difference regarding Israel's West Bank settlement policies.

According to the report, Obama has ordered the Iranian issue be discussed independently from all others.

Meanwhile, sources in the US administration noted a difference between Barak and Netanyahu's approach to the Iranian threat, saying that while Barak openly discusses his concerns over Iran's nuclear progress, Netanyahu has ordered his cabinet ministers to stay mum.

"That's very good advice," a Washington source said, Ynet News reported.