Clinton Sees U.S., Israel In Lockstep On Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday the United States and Israel were “on the same page” in their determination to prevent Iran from achieving what the West fears its goal of building a nuclear bomb.

In Jerusalem on the last stop of an Asian and Middle East tour, Clinton said she and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “talked about concrete steps that we can take to continue to build the pressure” on Tehran.

Israel is widely thought to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons capability and, citing threats made by Iran’s leaders to destroy it, has made clear it would attack the Islamic Republic if diplomacy fails.

Iran denies Western accusations of a covert agenda to develop a nuclear weapon, insisting it wants to stockpile enriched uranium solely to generate more electricity for a rapidly growing population and radio isotopes for medical use.

Talks between world powers and Iran to resolve the standoff have so far failed to secure a breakthrough.

Reuters