Romney, Netanyahu discuss Iran in phone call

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AFP) - White House hopeful Mitt Romney said on Friday he discussed Iran's nuclear threat and turmoil in the region in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Republican presidential candidate told reporters aboard his campaign plane that he did not believe military action against Iran was necessary, but that he would not rule it out.

"I do not believe that in the final analysis we will have to use military action" against Iran, Mr Romney said.

"I certainly hope we don't have to. I can't take that option off the table - it must be something which is known by the Iranians as a possible tool to be employed to prevent them from becoming nuclear." A nuclear Iran is "the greatest national security threat that we face," Mr Romney said.