Olmert seeks German support for tougher sanctions against Iran - Haaretz

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Sun., November 04, 2007 Cheshvan 23, 5768

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		Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Reuters)

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Last update - 17:09 01/11/2007

Olmert seeks German support for tougher sanctions against Iran

By The Associated Press

tags: nuclear, Israel, Germany

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday asked for Germany's support on tougher sanctions against Iran over its refusal to accept international demands to halt its nuclear program, the Prime Minister's Office said.

Olmert discussed the Iranian issue and ongoing peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians during his meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Israel has welcomed a U.S.-led push to impose a third set of United Nations Security Council sanctions on Iran over its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment activities - a process that can be used to produce fuel for nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. The U.S., Israel and other Western countries believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons, a charge that Tehran denies.

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France and Britain have backed the call for stronger sanctions, but the rest of the European Union remains divided on how to defuse the standoff.

U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said Thursday that China and Russia had been blocking a new UN Security Council resolution on the issue since late March.

Olmert stressed the importance he ascribes to Germany's strong support of the continued expansion of sanctions against Iran, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. It was not immediately known how Steinmeier reacted. Germany is among Iran's top European trade partners.

The statement also said Olmert hopes an upcoming U.S.-hosted Mideast conference will be able to serve as a milestone and create the necessary support for the continuation and expansion of the existing peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

A date for the conference, expected to take place later this year in Annapolis, Maryland, has not been set due to disagreements between Israel and the Palestinians about the agenda of the meeting.

Steinmeier was wrapping up a two-day visit to the region that included talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Iran president warns Europe not to back U.S. sanctions on Tehran

Hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday warned European countries not to follow the U.S. lead in imposing unilateral sanctions against his country, state radio reported.

Ahmadinejad threatened unspecified retaliation by Iran if Europe followed in the footsteps of the United States, which last week announced sanctions against the Islamic state.

"If they plan to cooperate with the enemy of the Iranian nation, we cannot interpret this as a friendly behavior. We will show reaction," the radio quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

The U.S. measure bans dealings with a host of companies connected to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, an elite force that has extensive business holdings in oil, construction and other sectors.

It also prohibits American companies from working with the Guards-linked Iranian companies and puts pressure on international firms and banks not to deal with them as well.

Ahmadinejad spoke after a ceremony inaugurating a petrochemical complex in the southern port of Asalouyeh, some 1,500 kilometers (940 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.

"You, Europeans, know well what will happen in the economic sphere if Iran takes a serious move in this matter," the Iranian leader said.

IRNA, the state official news agency, also quoted Ahmadinejad as saying: "You, Europe, need us more" - a veiled reference to business ties between Tehran and European nations.

According to official statistics Europe is Iran's largest trading partner, with over 40 percent of Iran's imports coming from European Union countries. Also, many European energy companies have been working in Iran's attractive energy market, which is the second oil producer among OPEC countries.

Ahmadinejad also spoke against a third round of UN sanctions on Tehran, saying that enemies of Iran should know that the era of unanimous [UN] resolutions against Iranian nation has passed.

IRNA said Ahmadinejad called sanction against his country a ridiculous story.

The Iranian president's comments came a day after the head of the Revolutionary Guards warned the U.S. against attacking the Islamic Republic, saying if it did, Washington would be stuck in a quagmire worse than Iraq or Afghanistan.

Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Guards commander, said Wednesday his forces were prepared to strike back with a crushing response if attacked, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

"Concerns have been mounting in recent months that the United States might attack to prevent Iran from developing atomic bombs. The U.S. has said it is trying to resolve its disputes with Iran diplomatically but also says it has not ruled out any options."

Related articles:

Iran condemns new U.S. sanctions as 'hostile policy'

PM to Putin: Increase sanctions against Iran

France backs new sanctions on Iran over nuclear program

Peres: World has proof that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons

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1.	Europe has capitulated already	12:36	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

2.	1Jonathan S. the EU should have called on israel to withdraw to	12:49	\|	kakshmi	01/11/07

3.	Ahmadinejad speaking to his EU bootlickers	12:53	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

4.	#1 - Agreed. Mainland Europe is in Iran`s hand	12:57	\|	Dan	01/11/07

5.	Times do change	13:12	\|	Kris	01/11/07

6.	WHAT AN OPENMINDED FELLOW, GIVING THEM CHOICE OF HIS WAY OR ELSE	13:36	\|	Mitch Iginer	01/11/07

7.	HE IS KIND TO GOATS	13:42	\|	Iskander	01/11/07

8.	DISMANTLE THE DOLL HOUSE	13:46	\|	NEIL GOLAN	01/11/07

9.	EUROSTAN WILL BOW TO IRANIAN THREATS	14:06	\|	M.Adman	01/11/07

10.	#4 - Euro pretty weak?	14:12	\|	BC	01/11/07

11.	For Jonathan S	14:24	\|	christoph	01/11/07

12.	EUROPE NEEDS IRAN	14:27	\|	indrajaya	01/11/07

13.	Iran and its big Crap	14:53	\|	Brod	01/11/07

14.	#12 indrajaya- you are mking fun of yourself	15:04	\|	Axel	01/11/07

15.	NEXT STEP....SHARIA LAW IN EUROPE	15:07	\|	THE LIBRARIAN	01/11/07

16.	Iran is just Israel`s problem until Israel frees Pals.	15:14	\|	Michael	01/11/07

17.	Indrajayah, don`t worry you can say it	15:25	\|	H	01/11/07

18.	If Israel allows for the creation	15:29	\|	Voice of Reason	01/11/07

19.	Iran more peaceful than Israel	15:34	\|	POP	01/11/07

20.	No Problems = End the Occupaiton	15:35	\|	POP	01/11/07

21.	#16 michael (Iran is just Israel`s problem )	15:56	\|	Axel	01/11/07

22.	Jonathan S.: Have you ever visited Germany?	16:08	\|	Wolfgang Schiele	01/11/07

23.	For Christoph about the mullah system	16:08	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

24.	if europe `needs` iran, take iran	16:18	\|	frenz	01/11/07

25.	The policies of Mr. Steinmeier	16:21	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

26.	20 POP,it`s the simplest thing to do,but not if israel`s	16:22	\|	lakshmi	01/11/07

27.	We`ll have to agree to differ Axel 21.	16:23	\|	Michael	01/11/07

28.	Not a good idea	16:25	\|	Mark Lincoln	01/11/07

29.	For Wolfgang in Wuppertal	16:45	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

30.	Frenzy 24 do you work for an oil compay or something?	17:10	\|	Michael	01/11/07

31.	Peace some day	18:06	\|	Teacher	01/11/07

32.	There is not only black and white	19:26	\|	Peter	01/11/07

33.	Germans won`t do it. They are anti semite	20:32	\|	Cuckoo	01/11/07

34.	Guilt trip	20:55	\|	W	01/11/07

35.	Effective sanctions are the only chance to avoid nuclear war	21:00	\|	Briton	01/11/07

36.	To Jonathan S.	21:47	\|	Mark B.	01/11/07

37.	glad you asked, michael # 30	22:09	\|	frenz	01/11/07

38.	For the ignorant Mark B	22:48	\|	Jonathan S	01/11/07

39.	Foolish Lies	02:03	\|	joebhed	02/11/07

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