President George W Bush will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Texas ranch to discuss unity on Iran's nuclear program, despite Tehran's defiance. Bush often invites world leaders to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to emphasize their special relationship, and Merkel will spend two days there engaging in talks and possibly going hiking. The White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, mentioned that the ranch provides a great setting for both casual visits and in-depth discussions on various issues. Merkel's visit follows French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent special treatment by Bush, who was taken on a tour of Mount Vernon, George Washington's home. As Bush nears the end of his term, he 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. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims that Iran's nuclear program is permanent and that they have 3,000 centrifuges at the Natanz plant. While German companies continue to trade with Iran, the US has adopted a tougher stance against Tehran. The White House National Security Council's spokesperson, Gordon Johndroe, stated that, strategically, the US and Germany are in agreement, but there are minor tactical differences. Earlier in the week, Merkel stated that Germany would back tougher UN sanctions against Iran if they did not address concerns over their nuclear program. Bush, on the other hand, has increased his criticism of Iran and even mentioned the possibility of World War Three if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, causing concern among some European allies. The Bush administration maintains that it is dedicated to diplomatic efforts but is also keeping all options open. Perino mentioned that the two leaders will discuss the need for cooperation on diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to stop uranium reprocessing and enrichment, as well as other topics such as Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iraq, climate change, and economic issues like the Doha trade round. A high-ranking German official, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned that Merkel and Sarkozy had decided to present a unified stance on Iran, the Middle East peace process, and climate change during their discussions with Bush. It is anticipated that Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States will convene this month to review reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding Iran's adherence to international requirements. Daniel Benjamin, a researcher at the Brookings Institution, noted that the relationship between the U.S. and Germany has gotten better since Merkel succeeded Gerhard Schroeder.