Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak makes it clear that Cairo and Tel Aviv have an entirely different standpoint when it comes to Iran.

In a Wednesday interview with Israel TV, Mubarak sought to distance himself from Tel Aviv's perception of a so-called "Iranian threat", saying Egypt's views on Iran do not chime with those of Israel.

"Israel fears Iran seeks to build a nuclear bomb whereas we believe Iran is trying to dominate the entire region," said Mubarak, only days after he held talks with Israel's hardliner Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheik

The meeting was reportedly designed to persuade Israel into accepting the Idea of Palestinian statehood as the only road to peace.

Mubarak has managed to portray himself as a vocal advocate of Palestinian statehood. However, Elliot Abrams, a former deputy national security adviser in the Bush administration, said Netanyahu is likely to win the Egyptian President's support of dealing with Iran first.

Israeli officials have so far ignored international calls for a two-state peace settlement with the Palestinians, arguing that they see greater significance in dealing with an "Iranian threat".

Tel Aviv -- the sole possessor of a nuclear warhead in the Middle East, according to former US president Jimmy Carter -- has stepped up accusation that Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is amassing weapons-grade uranium.

Iran has rejected the allegations, asserting that it only enriches low-grade uranium to generate electricity.

The already tense relations between Tehran and Cairo soured furthermore after Mubarak gave Iran a blunt ultimatum last week. The Egyptian President warned Iran of "Cairo's wrath" and accused the country of attempting to destabilize his government.

Israel is said to be attempting to take advantage of the current tension between Egypt and Iran to build a coalition and unite Arab nations against Iran.

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