Bush blocked Israel's plans for air strike against Iran

Israel planned a bombing raid on Iran's nuclear sites but backed down when it was told by George Bush he would not support it, it is reported today.

Mr Bush added he did not expect to revise that view for the rest of his presidency, senior European diplomatic sources said.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who has since announced his resignation, raised the issue when the US President visited Israel for the 60th anniversary of the state's founding. The pair held a secret onetoone meeting on 14 May, the sources said.

"He took [the refusal] as where they were at the moment, and that the US position was unlikely to change as long as Bush was in office," one source told The Guardian.

Israel, thought to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, believes Iran could have a nuclear bomb by 2010 which would threaten the existence of the Jewish state.

Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, denies seeking nuclear arms and says it is enriching uranium only for use in generating power.

The Guardian said a European head of government met Mr Olmert after Mr Bush's visit. Mr Bush's decision appeared to be based on two factors.

One was concern over Iranian retaliation, including attacks on US personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on shipping in the Gulf.

The other was anxiety Israel would not succeed in disabling Iran's nuclear facilities in a single assault without risking full-scale war.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic solution to the long-running stand-off with Iran over its nuclear programme but has not ruled out military action as a last resort.