Clinton reassures Israel on Iran

JERUSALEM -- The United States will use its power to keep Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton declared yesterday after meeting top Israeli officials.

She said the United States would keep raising the pressure on Iran as long as it fails to come clean on its uranium enrichment program.

"Iran is under greater pressure now than ever before," she said. "We will use all elements of American power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."

The veiled threat came as how to deal with Iran's nuclear program is debated. The United States is seeking more time for negotiations and sanctions; Israel has repeatedly hinted at military action. Both suspect Iran may be aiming toward producing nuclear weapons. Iran denies that.

After her declaration about possible use of U.S. power, Clinton said everyone prefers a diplomatic resolution, and that Israel and the United States were "on the same page" regarding Iran.

"Iran's leaders still have the opportunity to make the right decision. The choice is ultimately Iran's," she said. Iran's proposals so far have been "non-starters," she said

Throughout her day of meetings, Clinton also spoke about the need to halt Syria's violence and underscored America's support for Israel.

Clinton met President Shimon Peres for about an hour as part of what is perhaps her final visit to Israel as secretary of state, bringing a message of solidarity to the Jewish state after three and a half years of only stunted progress toward a Palestinian peace deal.

Peres spoke about the importance of maintaining Israel's three-decade peace with Egypt, and decried the violence in neighboring Syria. He also voiced support for the Obama administration's pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear activities -- which has sometimes been a point of contention between the United States and Israel.

Clinton also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.