MUNICH, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted Saturday Russia's important role in resolving the tension surrounding Iran's nuclear program. Merkel said during a security conference in Munich that the German-Russian strategic partnership should also help resolve the problem.
"We should stop nuclear development in Iran," the chancellor said.
She said she did not deny Iran's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but strongly opposed the development of nuclear weapons in the country.
The standoff between Iran and the West over the former's nuclear programs began after Tehran caused widespread international concern with an announcement last month that it had abandoned a two-year moratorium on uranium enrichment research.
Some countries, led by the U.S., suspect Tehran of pursuing a secret weapons program and have been pushing the referral of the Iranian nuclear file to the UN Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic if it is found to have been in breach of its international commitments.
Iran insists that it only wants nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Moscow and Tehran - together with Chinese representatives - are to hold talks February 16 on Russia's offer to provide uranium enriched on Russian territory for an Iranian nuclear energy program. A deal could enable Iran to re-impose its moratorium.
Merkel also said the German government condemned "provocative statements by Iranian President" Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who had called for Israel to be "wiped from the face of the map."
"Iran cannot expect a tolerant attitude to it from the German government," Merkel said.
Merkel said referring the Iranian nuclear file to the UN Security Council was not intended as a threat to the Islamic Republic's government. "The UN is a place where such conflicts should be resolved," she said.
