President George W Bush will seek Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support for wider sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, during weekend talks in Maine where Mr Bush hopes to rekindle a friendship with the Russian leader.

Six years after Mr Bush said he trusted Mr Putin because he had gotten “a sense of his soul” ties between their two countries have grown chilly over Russia’s concerns about a US missile shield in Eastern Europe, US concerns about a rollback of freedoms in Russia and Moscow’s opposition to the Iraq war.

The two-day talks at the Bush family home in picturesque Kennebunkport will begin on Sunday. Officials have described the meeting as informal and have played down any prospects of a breakthrough on issues like the missile shield.

But a senior US official, who briefed reporters about the visit earlier this week, said there has been “an increasing convergence in US-Russian views” on concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

“I do think we see the threat very much the same,” said the official, adding that there would be discussion of a new UN Security Council resolution against Iran.

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Mr Bush plans to ask Mr Putin to support steps to increase economic pressure on Iran.

Foreign policy analysts said the decision to host the Russian leader in Kennebunkport underscored Mr Bush’s seriousness about trying to mend the relationship.