US to support Israel if Iran attacks it: Bush

Washington, May 24 : US President George Bush has ''made it clear that the country would support Israel if Iran attacks it '' in the face of Teheran's threats, according to White House press secretary Tony Snow.

Mr Snow said the US was also not ''making any proffers'' to Iran at this time but expressed support for European and international efforts to engage Teheran, including offering incentives, to find a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the impasse over the Iranian Nuclear programme.

According to press reports that Iran could be offered ''commercial aircraft'' for purchase in exchange for abandoning its Nuclear fuel-cycle programme, Mr Snow told reporters here yesterday that Iran first ''has to make that declaration''.

The Bush administration has supported activities of the Europeans and other negotiating partners ''all along'' in their efforts to get Iran to abandon its Nuclear weapons ambitions, he said.

''There are certain things that have to happen before we can proceed one step forward. We certainly support the efforts of our allies to make sure that the government of Iran renounces -- and in a way that is verifiable,'' Mr Snow said.

At this point, however, the US ''is not going to be making any proffers to the government of Iran,'' he said.

''Every time US partners such as France, Germany and the UK have made an offer to Iran, it's been rejected. So it's a little difficult for me to get up and try to say, If Iran does this,'' Mr Snow said.

UNI