U.S. officials have denied that President Barack Obama had refused to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York this month, amid tensions over Iran.
Netanyahu's team had asked for talks during the UN General Assembly in New York, but White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama's schedule would not allow it.
The Israeli leader is to meet State Secretary Hillary Clinton instead.
The apparent snub, coupled with Netanyahu's sharpened demands for a tougher U.S. line against Iran, threatened to plunge U.S.-Israeli relations into crisis ahead of the November presidential election.
Netanyahu's team had asked for talks during the UN General Assembly in New York, but White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama's schedule would not allow it.
The Israeli leader is to meet State Secretary Hillary Clinton instead.
The apparent snub, coupled with Netanyahu's sharpened demands for a tougher U.S. line against Iran, threatened to plunge U.S.-Israeli relations into crisis ahead of the November presidential election.
