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| Barack Obama and Benajamin Netanyahu in Iran talks | Barack Obama and Benajamin Netanyahu in Iran talks |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are to meet at the White House for key talks expected to hinge on Iran. | US President Barack Obama and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are to meet at the White House for key talks expected to hinge on Iran. |
| The meeting comes the day after Mr Obama told a pro-Israel conference in Washington that there had been too much "loose talk" of war with Tehran. | The meeting comes the day after Mr Obama told a pro-Israel conference in Washington that there had been too much "loose talk" of war with Tehran. |
| Mr Netanyahu will address the summit on Monday evening. | Mr Netanyahu will address the summit on Monday evening. |
| Israel fears Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, although Tehran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful. | Israel fears Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, although Tehran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful. |
| After years of international pressure and the repeated failure of negotiations and offers of talks with Tehran, talk has grown in recent months of a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. | After years of international pressure and the repeated failure of negotiations and offers of talks with Tehran, talk has grown in recent months of a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. |
| The US has pushed for the imposition of ever-stricter sanctions against Iran, including recent curbs on its central bank and its ability to export oil to the West. | The US has pushed for the imposition of ever-stricter sanctions against Iran, including recent curbs on its central bank and its ability to export oil to the West. |
| Yet despite the ratcheting up of sanctions, speculation has been mounting that Israel might choose to attack Iran sometime during 2012. | Yet despite the ratcheting up of sanctions, speculation has been mounting that Israel might choose to attack Iran sometime during 2012. |
| 'No hesitation' | 'No hesitation' |
| Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu - who are not said to be close confidants and have disagreed on Middle East policy in the past - are due to spend the morning in meetings at the White House. | Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu - who are not said to be close confidants and have disagreed on Middle East policy in the past - are due to spend the morning in meetings at the White House. |
| The argument between BO and Bibi is not really about the pros and cons of war. It is about how you define success. Or failure. What are the red lines that must not be crossed? | The argument between BO and Bibi is not really about the pros and cons of war. It is about how you define success. Or failure. What are the red lines that must not be crossed? |
| Mr Obama notes pointedly that "the United States and Israel both assess that Iran does not yet have a nuclear weapon," for that is his red line. | Mr Obama notes pointedly that "the United States and Israel both assess that Iran does not yet have a nuclear weapon," for that is his red line. |
| Israel's red line, and that of many speakers at the conference, is different. | Israel's red line, and that of many speakers at the conference, is different. |
| It is when Iran has enough enriched uranium to build a bomb, something that could happen much sooner than putting the whole thing together. | It is when Iran has enough enriched uranium to build a bomb, something that could happen much sooner than putting the whole thing together. |
| A first session, in the Oval Office at 10:45 EST (15:45 GMT), would be an opportunity to discuss "a range of strategic issues of mutual concern", the White House said. | |
| Next, the two leaders are scheduled to meet for a private working lunch at the White House. | Next, the two leaders are scheduled to meet for a private working lunch at the White House. |
| At the end of the day Mr Obama is scheduled to meet US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta. | At the end of the day Mr Obama is scheduled to meet US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta. |
| In his speech on Sunday to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), Mr Obama said the US "will not hesitate" to use force to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. | In his speech on Sunday to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), Mr Obama said the US "will not hesitate" to use force to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. |
| But he stressed that diplomacy could still succeed. | But he stressed that diplomacy could still succeed. |
| "Iran's leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment - I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Mr Obama told the annual Aipac conference. | "Iran's leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment - I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Mr Obama told the annual Aipac conference. |
| "And as I've made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests." | "And as I've made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests." |
| However, he said Iran was isolated and there was an opportunity "for diplomacy - backed by pressure - to succeed". | However, he said Iran was isolated and there was an opportunity "for diplomacy - backed by pressure - to succeed". |
| "Already, there is too much loose talk of war," Mr Obama added. | "Already, there is too much loose talk of war," Mr Obama added. |
| "Over the last few weeks such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil which they depend upon to fund their nuclear programme." | "Over the last few weeks such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil which they depend upon to fund their nuclear programme." |