White House denies Obama refused to meet with Netanyahu

The White House denied late on Tuesday that President Barack Obama had refused a request to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York later this month. Israeli officials were quoted saying that Obama declined to meeting with Obama on the margin of the United Nations General Assembly, as the difference between both sides continues on how to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions. National Security Council spokesman, Tommy Vietor, told reporters that those reports were not accurate and both Obama and Netanyahu "are simply not in the city at the same time". "The President arrives in New York for the UN on Monday, September 24 and departs on Tuesday, September 25", he added. Netanyahu is expected to arrive later in the same week. Vietor also noted that Obama and Netanyahu are in regular contact, and the Israeli Prime Minister will be meeting in New York with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.