President Bush told Jewish leaders that Iran’s nuclear potential is among the top items on his agenda. The Conference of Presidents met with Bush and top White House and congressional officials on Thursday. Representatives from virtually all of the umbrella group s 50 member organizations met with Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and other top officials Thursday. The hour-long meeting included discussion of immigration, energy policy, the Iranian threat and deterioration in the Palestinian territories, according to participants. Bush emphasized the importance of containing Iran’s nuclear ambitions through sanctions, participants said. Bush is to meet with Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday, and Iran will top their agenda. Israel wants to set an end of year deadline for Iran to retreat from its enrichment of uranium. The White House meeting followed discussions with congressional leaders. Conference representatives met with House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the House Republican leadership. Malcolm Hoenlein, the conference s executive vice chairman, said the president was “very warm, very open,” and “spoke with great passion.”
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