Howard joins US in Iran warning (War Criminals)

The United States left open the possibility of a military strike against Iran today as Australia warned of the "nightmare scenario'' of Iran becoming emboldened by any coalition defeat in Iraq.

"All options are still on the table,'' US vice president Dick Cheney told a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney today.

Mr Cheney said Washington preferred to work with it allies to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear weapons.

"But I have made the point, and the president (George W Bush) has made the point, that all options are still on the table.

"The next step is now being debated.''

Mr Cheney, winding up a three-day visit to Australia, said America was "deeply concerned'' by Iran's activities.

"We see a nation that has been fairly aggressive in the Middle East, a sponsor of Hezbollah,'' he said.

"They have made some fairly inflammatory statements.

"They appear to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons.

"It would be a serious mistake if a nation such as Iran became a nuclear power.''

Mr Howard, under pressure from Labor Leader Kevin Rudd's resurgent opposition to pull out of Iraq, drew a direct link between the unpopular war and the emergence of Iran.

"I don't think there would be a country whose influence and potential clout would be more enhanced in that part of the world than Iran's would be if the coalition was defeated in Iraq,'' Mr Howard said.

"I don't think you can separate the two.

"Iran would be emboldened if the coalition was defeated in Iraq.

"And that would be seen to have occurred if there was a significant coalition withdrawal.

The statements by Mr Howard and Mr Cheney followed British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to start sending British troops home from Iraq.

They also came after Tehran ignored a UN deadline to stop nuclear work and a defiant Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran should stand up to the world and pursue its nuclear program.

The UN Security Council had given Iran until February 21 to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can make fuel for power plants or material for warheads.

Cheney dodges troop question

Mr Cheney refused to reveal whether he has asked Prime Minister John Howard to send more Australian troops to Iraq.

The pair discussed Iraq, along with a host of other issues, during a one-hour meeting at Mr Howard's Sydney office today.