Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wants to boost military help to Israel, his campaign said Sunday, a day after he seemed to back starting the ally's aid package at zero.

The ''unprecedented severity'' of a UN nuclear watchdog report on Iran's alleged atomic weapons drive makes an imminent Israeli military strike unlikely, Israeli television stations said on Tuesday.

A French foreign ministry spokesman said the diplomatic incident in which French President Nicolas Sarkozy was reported as having called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ''liar'' in talks with US President Barack Obama last week at the G20 in Cannes, was ''hype.''

Report by UN nuclear agency says Tehran continously worked toward a nuclear weapon since 2003; diplomatic source in Vienna tells Haaretz: 'This is the most damning report ever published by the IAEA.'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Bnejamion Netanyahu « a liar » and said he “can’t stand him anymore”, during a private conversatioon with US Prezsiodent Barack Obama after a joint press conference at last week’s G20 summit in Cannes.

Germany said Monday it would call for fresh ''pressure'' on Iran to comply with international commitments on its nuclear programme if a key report this week reveals further defiance.

Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee says funds are national security interests of the United States and that Israel does not object to the assistance.

Western experts say IAEA report to reveal Iran has already acquired knowledge, technology, and resources to achieve nuclear capability.

Sergei Lavrov says an attack would have unpredictable consequences; Russia is closest thing Iran has to a big power ally.

France said Friday it would abstain when the United Nations Security Council votes next week on whether to admit Palestine as a full member of the world body.