US national security advisor in Israel for talks on Iran: radio

Visiting US national security advisor Stephen Hadley was to discuss Iran's nuclear programme with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday night, public radio said.

A senior Israeli official confirmed the meeting was to take place but declined to give details.

The announcement came just hours after the deputy commander of Iran's army Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned that his country would "eliminate Israel from the global arena" if it were attacked by the Jewish 'state'.

Stewart Tuttle, the spokesman for the US embassy, said Hadley's talks with top Israeli officials would cover "issues of mutual interest, and a good guess is these will include Iran."

Israeli public radio said Hadley would also meet Defence Minister Ehud Barak, military chief of staff Lieutenant General Gaby Ashkenazi and other senior security officials.

The talks aimed at preparing a session of the bilateral strategic cooperation forum focused on Iran that will be held in Washington in two weeks time, the radio said. Full article