Bush enlists Berlusconi aid on Iran, Afghanistan

By Matt Spetalnick and Robin Pomeroy

ROME (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush won reassurances from his old ally Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday that Italy will help pressure Iran over its nuclear program and take more of a frontline military role in Afghanistan.

In a warm meeting that contrasted with the cool reception Bush got in the streets of Rome, including protests and chants of "Bush, go home", the U.S. and Italian leaders agreed to ratchet up the pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

The West fears Iran's uranium enrichment activities could be used to build a nuclear bomb. Iran says its program is only for power generation to meet the needs of its growing economy.

Bush stressed his preference for using diplomatic means but repeated "all options are on the table", a refrain repeated in his European tour to convince Iran that Washington will consider military action to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

At a joint news conference, Berlusconi reiterated Italy's offer to join the group leading talks with Iran, formed by the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany.

"I told Silvio I would seriously consider it," Bush said.

"I also made it clear however, that all of us, 'P5 plus 1' or not, need to be sending the same message to the Iranians, which is verifiably suspend your enrichment program or else you will face further sanctions and further isolation," he said.

Berlusconi offered Bush Italy's expertise on Iran to help in the negotiations, saying that Italy's extensive trade links with Iran meant "we know Iran very well from the inside".