News

US President George W Bush told Israel's prime minister in May that the US would not back an attack on Iran, a UK newspaper has reported.

A spokesman denied Ehud Olmert had said the words attributed to him in a working meeting with a foreign guest.

The Guardian quoted unnamed European diplomatic sources as saying Mr Olmert had used a one-to-one meeting with Mr Bush in May to raise the issue.

Israeli sees Iran's nuclear programme as its greatest threat.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only but has defied demands from the United Nations Security Council that it halt enriching uranium.

According to the sources quoted by the Guardian, Mr Bush turned down the proposal for an attack and said the US position was unlikely to change as long as he was in office.