President George W Bush will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Texas ranch to demonstrate unity on Iran despite Tehran's defiance over its nuclear program. Bush invites leaders to Crawford, Texas, to emphasize a strong relationship, and Merkel will spend two days at the ranch engaging in discussions on various global issues, possibly including hiking. The White House spokesperson Dana Perino stated that the ranch provides a great setting for both social interactions and extensive conversations. Merkel is the second European leader this week to receive special treatment from Bush, following French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Mount Vernon. With little time left in office, Bush remains committed to pressuring Iran on its nuclear activities. Iran has rejected the UN's request to stop its nuclear activities, which could be used for both civilian and military purposes. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims that Iran's nuclear program cannot be reversed and that the country has 3,000 centrifuges at the Natanz plant. While German companies continue to do business with Iran, the United States has adopted a tougher stance against Tehran. According to Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, the two countries have similar strategic goals but differ slightly in their tactics. Earlier this week, Merkel stated that Germany would back tougher UN sanctions against Iran if Tehran did not address concerns about its nuclear program. Bush has also increased his criticism of Iran, mentioning the possibility of World War Three if they obtained a nuclear weapon, causing concern among some European allies. The Bush administration maintains that they are committed to diplomatic efforts but also keep all options open. Perino mentioned that the two leaders will discuss the need for both countries to work together diplomatically to persuade Iran to stop its uranium reprocessing and enrichment. Other topics of discussion will include Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iraq, climate change, and economic issues like the Doha trade round. A high-ranking official from Germany, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that Merkel and Sarkozy had decided to express a unified stance on Iran, the Middle East peace process, and climate change when speaking with Bush. The countries of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States are scheduled to convene this month to review the reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding Iran's adherence to global expectations. Daniel Benjamin, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, noted that relations between the U.S. and Germany have gotten better since Merkel succeeded Gerhard Schroeder.