Shaul Mofaz warned on Monday that Iran's promised assistance to Palestinian security forces elevates dangers facing Israel and other Middle East countries.

Mofaz, a deputy prime minister who is also transportation minister, met with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns.

Mofaz told reporters afterward that if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
is

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is able to develop nuclear weapons Israel and other nations will face increased dangers.

"It will be a different world," Mofaz said outside the State Department.

Reports last week by Hamas that Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siyam was promised vehicles and other help from Iran during a visit to Tehran reflect an increasing danger to Israel, Mofaz said. "It is a danger for the future of Israel," he said.

Mofaz's visit helps set the stage for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Washington planned for mid-November and U.S-Israel security talks to be held in Israel in December.