Germany urges Iran to revive nuclear deal, despite Israel’s opposition

BERLIN (AA) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday renewed his call for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear crisis, despite Israel’s strong opposition to a new agreement.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Berlin, Scholz underlined that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, but stopped short of backing Israel’s demand to end talks with Tehran.

“A functional international agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear program is the right way,” Scholz said, but also expressed regret that Tehran has not yet given a positive response to EU’s proposals to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

Speaking after Scholz, Lapid warned that Tehran was using talks to buy time, while trying to become a nuclear state.

“It is time to move on from failed negotiations with Iran, they cannot and will not achieve the goal we all share, to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Lapid called for a new strategy to stop Iran’s nuclear program.

“A nuclear Iran will destabilize the Middle East, and create a nuclear arms race that will endanger the entire world,” he said.

“Returning to the nuclear agreement, under current conditions, would be a critical mistake.”