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Olmert: We're close to stopping Iran's nuclear program
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Staff, and News Agencies
Tags: Israel, George Bush 

After his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington on Wednesday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the end of Iran's controversial nuclear program was approaching.

"With every day that passes, we are getting closer to stopping Iran's nuclear program," he said, adding that substantial steps were being taken to handle the Iranian threat in "a more effective manner."

Olmert added that, as a result of the hour-long meeting with Bush, there were fewer question marks between the two allies concerning the means, the time constraints, and the level of American determination in dealing with the Iranian nuclear program.
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"Naturally the Iranian issue was central to our talks, and our shared point of departure is the need to deal with Iran before it manages to acquire non-conventional capabilities," Olmert told reporters.

He said the two leaders also discussed the talks with the Palestinians and Lebanon, and the U.S. president asked to be briefed on developments with Syria. "Every day that goes by we are making significant steps in dealing with this problem [Iran]. We, with the world under American leadership, are dealing with it in an effort to reach the goal which is to prevent Iran from acquiring [nuclear] arms," Olmert said.

"I do not think it is appropriate for Iran to know what we are doing," Olmert said, and described the cooperation with the United States on countering Iran's nuclear program.

Asked about Barack Obama's speech to the AIPAC conference vowing that Jerusalem will forever be Israel's undivided capital, Olmert said he did not hear the speech himself, but that "from what I heard they had impressive performances and I am very impressed by these declarations. I will speak with all of them by phone."

Bush to PM: 'Existential' Iran threat must be taken seriously
Bush told Olmert on Wednesday that Iran was an "existential threat to peace" and said the world must take that threat seriously.

"It is very important for the world to take the Iranian threat seriously, which the United States does," Bush said as he began White House talks with Olmert, visiting amid a corruption scandal at home that could drive him from office.

The Washington talks came a day after Olmert issued his toughest warning yet to Tehran, saying Iran's nuclear program must be stopped by "all possible means."

Bush assured Olmert, facing calls for his resignation over a corruption scandal that could disrupt the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, of the U.S. commitment to Israel.

Olmert, at Bush's side in the Oval Office, agreed that Iran poses "the main threat to all of us."

The prime minister also told the U.S. president that Israel appreciates the comments he made upon his visit to Israel last month, when he participated in celebrations of the country's 60th anniversary. Olmert told his host that Israel esteems his commitment to its security, and friendship toward it.

Bush also said the two would discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts launched last November at an international conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

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      1.   Missile defence shield. 06:41  |  Ian Moon 05/06/08
      2.   Olmert has NO MORAL RIGHT to be considered Prime Minister 07:26  |  Dolly 05/06/08
      3.   Nuclear Iran. 08:12  |  Jean Van Daem 05/06/08
      4.   America has no intention of attacking Iran 08:21  |  Natallie Durson 05/06/08
      5.   Remember this 08:28  |  Colin Wright 05/06/08
      6.   Question marks as to U.S. plans to confront Iran 09:30  |  Scott Havsy 05/06/08
      7.   Beautiful - it surely will be a day of celebration 10:09  |  Johnny 05/06/08
      8.   let hell break loose, if iran is attacked... 10:09  |  bashar 05/06/08
      9.   Scary 10:10  |  Angel 05/06/08
      10.   G-d willing this can be done in a peaceful manner 10:24  |  David G 05/06/08
      11.   Rising gas prices are Iran`s worst nightmare 10:29  |  Denise Thompson 05/06/08
      12.   Be careful what you ask for... 10:55  |  Cyrus 05/06/08
      13.   Isn`t he the one who said we`re close to ending Hamas rocketattak 11:10  |  Just Wondering 05/06/08
      14.   # 4 Natallie D. 11:11  |  Vinegar Hill, 05/06/08
      15.   #11 Denise 11:24  |  James 05/06/08
      16.   ISRAEL CAN STOP THIS MADNESS BY HELPING IRAN 11:26  |  Markus 05/06/08
      17.   Crazy Muslims, Jews and Christians will bring us WW3..... 11:41  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/06/08
      18.   Unbelievable declaration instead of, or to prevent, Olmert`s end? 11:48  |  S 05/06/08
      19.   No one Knows 11:57  |  guy 05/06/08
      20.   Now the Mullahs should act. But since the econmical 11:59  |  Jew- and Bookburner 05/06/08
      21.   warmongers in talkback 12:04  |  George 05/06/08
      22.   dealer wheeler olmert 12:15  |  mehmet 05/06/08
      23.   TheReal issue for the US..no Iranian nukes or. no Iranian oil/gas 12:20  |  Marco 05/06/08
      24.   Russia has its energy at home, US needs Iran`s energy. 12:22  |  Marco 05/06/08
      25.   And the sky is green, GW is not an idiont and he is not corrupt 12:30  |  Johan Odin 05/06/08
      26.   Russian Fuel 12:38  |  JJ 05/06/08
      27.   but hey Israel didnt bring a satelite into orbit to inspect flies 12:51  |  Marco 05/06/08
      28.   Iran Cannot be stopped 13:10  |  Adel 05/06/08
      29.   Really? 13:18  |  Walter Reid 05/06/08
      30.   novel ideas 13:33  |  allag 05/06/08
      31.   SURE THING MR OLMERT 13:38  |  Robert 05/06/08
      32.   iran 13:49  |  Dinki Di 05/06/08
      33.   scary is it angel? 14:06  |  Dnki Di 05/06/08
      34.   No Mention of the Saudis but they are there 14:21  |  Ronnie Wolman 05/06/08
      35.   After a month of bombing... 14:33  |  David Samson 05/06/08
      36.   Iran is NOT an American problem 14:44  |  Jack 05/06/08
      37.   TO NO 14. 15:02  |  DANNY. 05/06/08
      38.   Jack 36 with his head in the sand....Iran kills Americans 15:02  |  The Equalizer 05/06/08
      39.   TO NO 28 15:06  |  DANNY. 05/06/08
      40.   IRAN GET USED TO THIS KIND OF BULLY 15:11  |  indrajaya 05/06/08
      41.   Bye bye Iran 15:11  |  A Life 05/06/08
      42.   Olmert should take medication to cure his hallucination about Ira 15:12  |  Aounist 05/06/08
      43.   TO NO 33. 15:14  |  DANNY. 05/06/08
      44.   TO NO 34 RONNIE WOLMAN GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILY. 15:15  |  DANNY. 05/06/08
      45.   does anyone believe one word this traitorous gangster says? 15:16  |  chaim 05/06/08
      46.   Dreams not always come true Olmert 15:26  |  human rights 05/06/08
      47.   More rhetoric from Israel 15:26  |  Natallie Durson 05/06/08
      48.   Foolish talk 15:28  |  Joshua 05/06/08
      49.   We are closed to stop Olmert ! 15:34  |  Am Israel 05/06/08
      50.   #36 Iran is not your problem 15:42  |  Joshua 05/06/08
      51.   To Swiss Dino 15:44  |  Tim Abitaly 05/06/08
      52.   35 David: Month of Bombing? How that work against Hezbollah? 15:48  |  Tupac 05/06/08
      53.   El Baradei 15:48  |  Joe 05/06/08
      54.   Walk The Walk. 15:52  |  Cool B 05/06/08
      55.   #34 Ronnie Wolman, thanks for the link 15:57  |  JP 05/06/08
      56.   Olmert will go at Iran..HAS to... .. 16:02  |  Ali 05/06/08
      57.   #35 David Samson. And then......? 16:10  |  Johnboy 05/06/08
      58.   Bashar 8 16:13  |  Ordallie Nutcase 05/06/08
      59.   Jack Ocontraire, Israel now is saving you 16:13  |  Simon 05/06/08
      60.   By "All Possible Means" And... 16:16  |  Jeff Northridge 05/06/08
      61.   What bullies those two leaders are.... 16:20  |  Dutch 05/06/08
      62.   Not USA problem? 16:25  |  dinki di 05/06/08
      63.   #16 Marcus, welcome to fantasyland 16:32  |  DesMnsDave 05/06/08
      64.   #36, Jack still in denial? 16:32  |  DR 05/06/08
      65.   #36 Jack, if that is your real name 16:39  |  John Allen 05/06/08
      66.   DORIS CADIGAN THE BULLY 16:41  |  Michael 05/06/08
      67.   to jack 36 16:43  |  Dinki Di 05/06/08
      68.   How Israel can deal with the Iranian threat 16:43  |  Tosefta 05/06/08
      69.   malarky on all sides 16:55  |  Paul Freedman 05/06/08
      70.   Olmert repeating Sharon`s "good" advice on Iraq 17:08  |  Tosefta 05/06/08
      71.   What a palaver 17:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 05/06/08