The United States reiterated on Monday that it will not hold direct talks with Iran, saying Tehran must first suspend sensitive nuclear activities.

"At this point, our position in terms of direct talks with the Iranians is clear," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters after British Prime Minister Tony Blair was reported to have asked U.S. President George W. Bush to engage Iran and Syria.

The Observer newspaper said Blair had urged Bush to reach out to Damascus and Tehran to reduce tensions over Iraq.

The United States and Iran have contacts through "multilateral forums" and "other parties," Snow said, noting "it is not as if there is no communication."

On Syria, the spokesman said: "We have diplomatic relations with Syria, we continue to have diplomatic relations with Syria."

The White House spokesman made the statement when Bush is having talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the White House.

Olmert said here earlier in the day that Israel will not accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

Bush, a staunch supporter of Israel, vows to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons.

Iranian leaders have pledged to defend its legal nuclear rights, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes.

Source: Xinhua