Jerusalem: US President George W Bush is mulling an attack on Iran before the end of his term next year to "foil" its nuclear ambitions and counter Hezbollah's domination in Lebanon, a media report has said.

However, the "hesitancy" of Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was preventing the administration from deciding to launch an attack on the Islamic Republic, the Army Radio reported quoting officials in Jerusalem.

A senior member of Bush's entourage, during a recent visit to Israel, said at a closed-door meeting that the US President and Vice-President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action was called for.

As per Israeli assessments, recent turmoil in Lebanon where Hezbollah has established de facto control with Iran s help was advancing an American attack, the report said.

Bush is said to be of the opinion that Hezbollah s show of strength was evidence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's growing influence. The officials quoted Bush as saying that "the disease must be treated - not its symptoms."

The US President had launched a scathing attack against Ahmedinejad during a Knesset speech here last week by saying that "the President of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages."

"Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," Bush had said.

Source : PTI