Italian PM vows to do "everything" to halt Iran's nuke plans

'We shall do everything ... to stop this programme,' he told Israeli Prime Minister Benajmin Netanyahu during a joint news conference in Jerusalem.

What Israel sees as the existential threat posed by Iran's nuclear drive has been a central topic of the talks Berlusconi has held with Israeli officials. Prior to the late afternoon news conference, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman asked the Italian leader to use his ties with Moscow to strengthen Russia's current position on sanctioning Tehran.

He also asked Berlusconi to use his influence with Russia to stop it from selling arms to Tehran.

Israel regards Iran as its biggest existential threat because of Tehran's reputed nuclear weapons programme and due to repeated statements by Iranian leaders that the Jewish state should be wiped off the map.

Iran's support for militant groups which do not recognize Israel's right to exist has also angered Jerusalem, and Lieberman asked Italy to play a central role in advancing international legislation which would allow democratic countries to fight terrorism.