As the leaders set out at a joint press conference in the White House a vague plan for bringing a cessation of violence in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, they repeatedly referred to the threat posed by Iran and its links with the Lebanese-based militia group Hizbollah.

According to the Guardian, Mr. Blair said events such as the conflict in Lebanon underscored the "simple choice" faced by Iran and Syria. "They can either come in and participate as proper and responsible members of the international community, or they will face the risk of increasing confrontation."

Mr. Blair said Iran and Syria were making a "strategic miscalculation" if they thought the U.S. and U.K. would be "indifferent" to their actions.

"In Lebanon, Hizbollah and its Iranian and Syrian sponsors are willing to kill and use violence to stop the spread of peace and democracy," Mr. Bush said. "They're not going to succeed." Both men also criticised Syria but saved their harshest words for Iran. Teheran, and Syria, is alleged to have supplied weapons to Hizbollah.

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