President Bush reportedly said he would "understand" a preemptive Israeli strike against Iran s nuclear sites.

Maariv, citing diplomatic sources, reported Thursday that French President Jacques Chirac discussed Iran s nuclear program with Bush on the sidelines of the recent UN summit.

Asked by Chirac if Israel could attack Iran to prevent it getting the bomb, Bush reportedly said: "We cannot rule this out. And if it were to happen, I would understand it."

The report could not be independently confirmed.

Israel endorses US-led efforts to curb Iran s atomic ambitions through the threat of UN Security Council sanctions but, like Washington, has hinted that military action could be a last resort.