Jerusalem, Oct 22 (IANS): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his country was not aware of any talks between the US and Iran, Xinhua reported.

The comments came after The New York Times reported the US and Iran had agreed to hold one-on-one talks.

Both sides were set for talks to negotiate Tehran's nuclear power and put an end to the rift between Iran and the Western powers, the daily reported.

On Sunday, the White House, however, denied such talks.

Netanyahu also added that the best way to deter Iran's nuclear programme is through "halting uranium enrichment, removing all enriched uranium and dismantling the underground installation in Qom," and a mix of sharper sanctions and military threat.

"I can say that as long as I am the prime minister of Israel, Israel will not allow Iran to reach a military nuclear capability, " he said.

Netanyahu made the remarks while attending a drill for regional war, tsunami and earthquake in central Israel, amid raising tensions with Iran.

Israeli and US military and rescue forces are putting their skills to the test in coping with these situations in a joint exercise that will last for three weeks.