US President George W. Bush and visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a joint press conference at the White House on Friday, downplayed their differences on Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"We have the same goal: we don't want the Iranians to have nuclear weapons and we don't want the North Koreans to have nuclear weapons," Bush said.

"I am confident that the world will see to it that Iran goes to the UN Security Council if it does not live up to its agreements. And when that referral will happen is a matter of diplomacy," Bush said.

For his part, Putin said: "We have discussed the North Korean problem and the Iranian nuclear dossier, and I must say that our positions are very close with the American partners here. We will continue to coordinate our work."

Putin said that Russia is against Iran being a nuclear power.

"Of course, we are against the fact that Iran would become nuclear power, and will continue to do so in the future under any circumstances," Putin said.

The United States and Russia have been partners in the six-party talks aimed at resolving the DPRK nuclear issue. However, Russia has been helping Iran build a nuclear power station in defiance of the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2005)