Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday was to conclude a high-profile US visit focused on Iran's perceived nuclear threat after warning that his country would not live in the "shadow of annihilation".

Netanyahu was to meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and visit the US Congress a day after keenly-watched talks with President Barack Obama against the backdrop of speculation over a possible Israeli strike on Iran.

"Unfortunately, Iran's nuclear program has continued to march forward. Israel has waited ... for diplomacy to work. We've waited for sanctions to work. None of us can afford to wait much longer," Netanyahu told some 13,000 attendees late Monday in a speech before the AIPAC pro-Israel lobbying group.

"As prime minister of Israel I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation."

While Clinton has voiced exasperation in the past over settlement building in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem under Netanyahu, he enjoys strong bipartisan backing on Capitol Hill.

Netanyahu saluted Congress during the AIPAC speech on Monday, saying that more than half the members of the legislature were guests in the audience.

He then asked delegates "to stand up and applaud the representatives of the United States", prompting a standing ovation.

"Democrats and Republicans alike, I salute your unwavering support for the Jewish people," he added.

Netanyahu will meet Congressional leaders on Tuesday, winding up the two-day visit in which he held crucial talks with Obama earlier on Monday over how best to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions.

In Washington

Agence France-Presse