Washington - Top US lawmakers offered their support Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican Minority Leader John Boehner told reporters they are committed to ensuring Iran is unable to develop a nuclear weapon.
"It is important for all of us to work together to be sure that Iran does not develop a weapon of mass destruction," Pelosi said after emerging from the meeting with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu said a nuclear-armed Iran would post a threat to Arab countries in the region as well as the United States, warning Tehran could provide terrorists with a nuclear device.
"The consequences could be unimaginable," Netanyahu told Pelosi and Boehner.
Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama on Monday with concerns about Iran's nuclear activities at the top of his list. Obama assured Netanyahu that Israeli security was "paramount," but also urged the prime minister to move forward in the peace process with the Palestinians.
Netanyahu has differed with Obama by not explicitly backing the creation of Palestinian state, which is the cornerstone of Obama's approach to the Middle East. Obama believes resolving the Israeli- Palestinian conflict would rally Arab countries against Iran's nuclear aspirations.
Iran maintains its nuclear programme is solely aimed at producing energy and not for a weapon.
