US President George W. Bush will push Europe to step up financial sanctions against Iran when he travels to the continent on Monday in what is likely to be his last extended presidential visit to the region.

Amid signs that Tehran is accelerating its nuclear programme, Mr Bush will lobby European Union leaders to build on recent United Nations sanctions against Iran, take speedy action against Iran’s Bank Melli and further reduce both export credits linked to Iran and financial institutions’ dealings with the country, according to US officials.