German FM: Nuclear Iran a threat to entire region
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle emphasized the concerns his country shared with Israel over Iran’s nuclear program, following a meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday.
“A nuclear-armed Iran would not only pose a threat to Israel but to the stability of the entire region. A nuclear-armed Iran is not an option,” he said.
“We share the concern in Israel about the nuclear program in Iran,” Westerwelle told reporters before his meeting with Barak.
He added that Germany would maintain sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Iran, adding that there was still room for diplomacy. “We urgently call on Iran to enter into substantial negotiations,” he said.
“Nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran is not an option,” he added.
At a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Cyprus on Friday, Germany, Britain and France called for new EU sanctions against Iran.