German FM: Nuclear Iran ‘not an option’

Germany shares Israel’s concern regarding Iran’s nuclear program, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in Jerusalem on Sunday. He warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an Israeli strike would harm the effort to stop Tehran, since the international coalition formed was most likely to crumble as a result.

“A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat not only to Israel but to the stability of the entire region. A nuclear-armed Iran is not an option,” Westerwelle said at the beginning of a meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak. “We will keep up sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Iran. We still see room for diplomacy. We urgently call on Iran to enter into substantial negotiations.”

Westerwelle said Friday that Iran needs to allow international inspectors free and unfettered access to all of its nuclear installations and to verifiably refrain from building nuclear weapons.

Barak called Germany “a pillar in the international community,” praising its stand against “Iran’s continued movement toward military-nuclear capability.” The minister said Germany “plays a part in both the sanctions and the diplomacy, and whatever might be needed to block them; we highly appreciate this position.”

Westerwelle also met with Netanyahu, who said Gazan terrorists who fired rockets on Israel earlier in the day would be hit back.

“I’m absolutely committed to making clear to these terrorists that they can’t do this with impunity. They have paid a price in the past for these crimes and they’ll pay a price again,” Netanyahu said.

The foreign minister said Israel and Germany shared a special friendship.

“We condemn every kind of terrorist attack against Israel. We stand together with Israel, which means, of course, that we share also the concern about the Iranian nuclear program,” the minister said. He cautioned against a unilateral Israeli strike which Germany “didn’t believe to be the right way” to deal with the situation.

Barak cited Israel’s recent purchase of a Dolphin-class submarine from Germany at a large discount as proof of the two countries’ ties. “We are thankful for the very good relationship, and the continued support that Germany provides for Israel, reflected by the recent signing of the agreement to buy a sixth submarine,” he said.