WASHINGTON, Nov 13: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that Israel and the United States had `complete understanding’ on Iran, after his meeting with President George Bush, who rejected direct talks with Tehran unless it suspends its nuclear programme.

Mr Bush also warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would be an `incredibly destabilising’ force, and that if Iran continued `forward with their programme there has to be consequences’. “If the Iranians want to have a dialogue with us, we have shown them the way forward, that is, for them to verifiably suspend their enrichment activities,” Mr Bush told reporters at the White House.

Speaking in Hebrew, Mr Olmert said that `our position is that we must do everything in our power to make sure the Iranians do not cross a technological threshold that would allow them to develop nuclear weapons’. The premier said that he had had a `deep conversation’ with Mr Bush and that the two leaders had `complete understanding over their objectives’ regarding Iran.

Backed by the United States, Israel has said sanctions are necessary following Tehran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

Israel -- widely considered the Middle East's sole, if undeclared, nuclear weapons power -- considers Iran its chief enemy, pointing to calls from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map.—AFP