U.S. national security adviser Susan Rice met with her Israeli counterpart, Yossi Cohen, at the White House on Thursday, Feb 19 for a discussion on Iran's nuclear program, among other issues, the White House said, according to Reuters.

The White House said the national security advisers agreed to continue close consultations. The meeting comes at a tense time in U.S.-Israeli relations and ahead of a controversial visit to Washington next month by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.