President Bush reportedly said he would "understand" a preemptive Israeli strike against Iran s nuclear sites.
US President George W. Bush.
Photo: AP [file] , AP
Maariv, citing diplomatic sources, reported Thursday that French President Jacques Chirac discussed Iran s nuclear program with Bush on the sidelines of the recent UN summit.
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Asked by Chirac if Israel could attack Iran to prevent it getting the bomb, Bush reportedly said: "We cannot rule this out. And if it were to happen, I would understand it."
The report could not be independently confirmed.
Israel endorses US-led efforts to curb Iran s atomic ambitions through the threat of UN Security Council sanctions but, like Washington, has hinted that military action could be a last resort.
