Olmert to discuss Iran with Bush during US visit

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will discuss ways of thwarting Iran's nuclear program during a meeting with the US president on Wednesday, an aide said.

"This will be the most important meeting" of the prime minister's visit to the United States, Olmert's aide told Haaretz newspaper.

US President George Bush and Olmert are also expected to discuss other regional issues, including renewing peace talks between Israel and Syria.

Israel has been wary of nuclear-capable Iran, especially after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial statement last year that Israel should be "wiped off the map".

Last week, Olmert was quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth as saying "it is possible to deal with the Iranian problem by military means."

Meanwhile, delegates from dozens of countries began arriving in Washington for the start of US-hosted Middle East peace talks in Annapolis, Maryland on Tuesday.

US President George W. Bush has billed the talks as the first major push for Palestinian-Israeli peace in seven years. Syria and Saudi Arabia have said they will attend the talks.