However, Mekelberg warned that there could be a problem for Israel as it tries to keep the Iranian nuclear issue to the fore.

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem July 27, 2009. [pool-Darren Whiteside/Xinhua]

Too much talk in the international community about nuclear proliferation could well give rise to additional support for the idea of an entirely nuclear-free Middle East, he said.

While Israel sticks to a policy of ambiguity over its nuclear capabilities, it could find itself the subject of intense pressure over its reported nuclear arsenal as this issue continues to rumble on, he added.

The meetings in Israel come in the broader context of ongoing US-Israeli tension. Relations between the nations have been somewhat strained since Obama became US president and Benjamin Netanyahu became Israeli Prime Minister earlier this year.

Obama's views on the Middle East are set almost 180 degrees from those of his predecessor George W. Bush. He believes in engagement where Bush sought to isolate. That means negotiating with Iran and Syria, something Bush was loathed to do.

With the visits to Israel this week of Gates, National Security Adviser James Jones and special regional envoy George Mitchell, the Obama administration has sent a clear public message to Israel:the "special relationship" between the two will continue, despite ongoing disagreements about Israel's settlement policy.

Key among the personnel flying into Israel were Gates and Jones, because their agendas clearly include Iran and the bilateral defense relationship. Israel needs assurances from Washington that the US is serious in its determination to deal with the Iranian nuclear situation.

A day before the Gates-Netanyahu parley, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a clear signal of support to Israel when she appeared on the TV show Meet the Press, saying that "We are united in our continuing commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons... Your pursuit is futile."

Following Gates' meeting with Barak and his subsequent talks with Israeli PM Netanyahu, the message from the Pentagon was one of wholehearted support for Israel.

Israel is also trying to suggest that Washington is fully behind Israel on this issue.

"It's always good to know that the US, the strongest nation in the world and the leader of the free world, stands at the side of free, moderate nations against oppressive regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere," Barak said.

But at the same time, Tehran sent out its own message to Washington on Monday. Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have the potential to further bolster ties, Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

"The two countries enjoy abundant capacities to strengthen and expand bilateral friendly ties, which must be utilized within the framework of common interests," Larijani said during a meeting with DPRK's ambassador to Tehran So Se Pyong.  

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2009)