Israeli officials play down report of Iran-U.S. deal

Israeli officials played down a report in an Israeli newspaper on Monday that accused Washington of secretly negotiating with Tehran to keep the United States out of a future Israel-Iran war.             

The paper said the United States told Iran it expected Tehran in return to refrain from retaliating against U.S. interests, including its military in the Gulf. The report did not disclose any source for its information.                 

An Israeli official, who asked not to be identified, described the report as illogical.                  

"It doesn't make sense," the official said. "There would be no need to make such a promise to the Iranians because they realize the last thing they need is to attack U.S. targets and draw massive U.S. bombing raids."             

President Barack Obama is fighting accusations from his Republican challenger Mitt Romney that he is careless in support for Israel, Washington's long-term ally in the Middle East.                   

The Obama administration says it is strongly committed to Israel's security and to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Sunday: "I can tell you that there is absolutely no daylight between the United States and Israel when it comes to the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.                   

The United States and Israel both accuse Iran of developing nuclear capability that could be used to make a weapon, and have both said they reserve the right to take military action to prevent Iran from making a bomb.                    

However, the Obama administration has repeatedly made clear in public that it thinks diplomacy and tough new sanctions have not yet run their course, even as Israeli officials say the window for effective military action is rapidly closing.                   

Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said he still believed Obama's assurances that Washington was prepared to use force if needed to prevent Iran from developing a bomb.                

"I think the Iranians understand that if they cross a line towards a bomb, they could encounter very strong resistance, including all the options that are on the table - as the American president has said."                 

Iran denies it is seeking a weapon and has threatened to retaliate fiercely against both the United States and Israel if either attacks it.                

Obama has had frosty relations with Israel's rightwing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to visit the United States this month.                  

The Obama administration and the European Union imposed harsh new sanctions on Iran which took effect in July. U.S. officials say they hope that this will persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.    


LBCI /REUTERS