Bush, Putin sticks to "united position" on Iran, White House says

U.S. President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on Monday to stick to "a united position" in the Iranian nuclear standoff, the White House said.

In their telephone conversation, the two leaders "agreed on the need maintain a united position in pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.

The United States has been accusing Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs. Iran has insisted that its nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes only.

The United States has also been demanding Russia end cooperation with Iran in building the Islamic republic's first civilian nuclear power station and also suggested halting a sale of Russian missiles.

Bush and Putin also discussed "recent tensions" in Russia- Georgian relations," Snow said.

Last week Russia recalled its ambassador to Georgia and ordered a partial evacuation of Russian personnel from the country amid a growing row over the Georgian authorities' detention of four Russian military officers.

Source: Xinhua