Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is vying for the prime minister’s job as the head of the Kadima party, on Thursday sent a loud and clear “No you can’t” to US President-elect Barack Obama on the latter’s stated willingness to conduct negotiations with Iran without preconditions.

“We live in a neighborhood in which sometimes dialogue – in a situation where you have brought sanctions, and you then shift to dialogue – is liable to be interpreted as weakness,” Livni told Israel Radio. Asked if she supported any U.S. dialogue with Iran, Livni replied: “The answer is no.” Livni also said “the bottom line” was that the U.S., under Obama, “is also not willing to accept a nuclear Iran.”

Obama has said he would toughen sanctions on Iran but has also held out the possibility of direct talks to resolve rows, which include a dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

And like Bush, has not ruled out military action although he has criticized the outgoing administration for not pushing for more diplomacy and engagement with Iran.