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Iran key as Israeli PM meets Bush Israeli PM and Bush unite on Iran
(about 14 hours later)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is set to meet US President George W Bush at the White House, with Iran, Iraq and the Palestinian conflict on the agenda. US President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have used White House talks to step up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.
Israel has expressed increasing concern over Iran in the light of Tehran's refusal to heed United Nations calls for it to halt its nuclear programme. Israel has expressed increasing concern over Tehran's refusal to heed UN calls for it to halt its nuclear programme.
The visit also comes as Mr Bush ponders a change in policy on Iraq after the Republicans lost mid-term polls. Speaking after Monday's talks, Mr Bush warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a "terribly destabilising" force and would have to be isolated by the world.
The US may try to involve Syria and Iran more in deciding Iraq's future. He and Mr Olmert also discussed Iraq and the Palestinian conflict.
If someone wants to reach a compromise with Iran, he must understand that Iran won't be ready to do so unless it is afraid Israeli PM Ehud Olmert The meeting was Mr Olmert's second at the White House since taking over from Ariel Sharon.
Mr Olmert has already warned the US against the possible effects of a premature withdrawal from Iraq, which he said could lead to civil war with serious implications for moderate governments in the region. It follows a summer of fighting in Lebanon and Gaza which has forced Mr Olmert to abandon his central policy - unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.
The meeting comes six months after Mr Olmert's first at the White House and follows a summer of fighting in Lebanon and Gaza which has forced him to abandon his central policy - unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank.
A recent poll put his approval rating among Israelis at about 20%.A recent poll put his approval rating among Israelis at about 20%.
Unidentified threat Isolation
Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned as US defence secretary after the election defeats, was opposed to any dialogue with Iran. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr Olmert said he and Mr Bush had "complete understanding" over their objectives concerning Iran.
Israeli operations in Gaza are likely to be discussedThe man expected to replace him, Robert Gates, has suggested the dialogue could be possible. Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state
Mr Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state and has described the Nazi holocaust as a myth. Mr Olmert said Israel would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and would do everything in its power to stop Tehran crossing the "technological threshold" that would allow it to develop nuclear weapons.
Mr Olmert said Iran should be more actively deterred from completing its nuclear programme, which Israel and Western powers say is intended for military use. He accused the Iranian government of "fanaticism and extremism", saying it threatened not only the existence of Israel, but also the whole world.
"If someone wants to reach a compromise with Iran, he must understand that Iran won't be ready to do so unless it is afraid," Mr Olmert said. Mr Bush said there had to be "consequences" if Iran moved forward with its nuclear programme.
"Israel has various options which I am not prepared to discuss." "A good place to start is working together to isolate the country. And my hope is, there are rational people inside the government that recognise isolation is not in their country's interest," he said.
US support Economic isolation could be one route pursued by the West, he said.
Israel is widely considered to be the only nuclear armed state in the Middle East, although it has never admitted having the capability. Mr Bush added that if the Iranians wanted to have a dialogue "we have shown them the way forward", referring to US and European Union demands that they halt enrichment.
Negotiations
Donald Rumsfeld, who resigned as US defence secretary after the Republicans lost US mid-term elections last week, was opposed to any dialogue with Iran.
The man expected to replace him, Robert Gates, has suggested that dialogue could be possible.
Speaking earlier on US television, Mr Olmert said Israel was not looking for a confrontation with Iran and would prefer a negotiated resolution.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for an end to the Israeli state and has described the Nazi holocaust as a myth.
Israel and Western powers say his country's nuclear programme is intended for military use.
An Iranian official said on Sunday that Tehran would deliver a "swift, strong and crushing" response to any Israeli military attack on its nuclear sites, which it says are entirely peaceful in nature.An Iranian official said on Sunday that Tehran would deliver a "swift, strong and crushing" response to any Israeli military attack on its nuclear sites, which it says are entirely peaceful in nature.
The issue of continuing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip that have left dozens dead the past two weeks will probably also be discussed. Israel is widely considered to be the only nuclear armed state in the Middle East, although it has never admitted having the capability.
Mr Olmert said he did not expect any change in Washington's unstinting support for Israel after control of Congress passed from Republican to Democrat. Mr Olmert has said he does not expect any change in Washington's unstinting support for Israel after control of Congress passed from Republican to Democrat.
On Saturday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning an Israeli attack in Gaza that killed 18 civilians, including women and children.