"While Iran may have suspended a nuclear weapons programme in 2003, according to a recently released US National Intelligence Estimate, it could easily be restarted. Iran's claim that it is enriching uranium for civilian purposes could lead to doing so for a nuclear bomb. You better take the Iranian threat seriously," Bush warned.

Prior to Bush's arrival, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip blasted southern Israel with rocket and mortar fire. Israeli police said 12 projectiles were fired.

Bush will later visit the Palestinian-governed West Bank, along with Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as part of his Middle East trip.

Photograph: David Blumenfeld-Pool/Getty Images