JERUSALEM, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones said Thursday that he sees no military operations against Iran in the near future, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

    "Use of military force is the last resort and Israel and the United States are cooperating on this issue," said Jones at a farewell ceremony, who will be replaced by James Cunningham.

    The remarks came a day after U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated that diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue is "the first option," although "all options are on the table."

    Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, also warned that an Israeli air strike against Iran would make the Middle East more unstable.

    Israel and the United States have been accusing Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its stated goal of developing civilian nuclear power, and refusing to rule out a strike against Iranian nuclear sites.

    Iran denies the accusations and derided the swirling air strike talks as "psychological warfare," while threatening dire retaliation should any assault be materialized.