Germany urges Iran to return to negotiations over nuclear issue

Germany's foreign minister on Saturday urged Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear program to avoid possible international sanctions.

"We are ready to return to the negotiating table any time if Iran declares its readiness to recognize the conditions for negotiations." Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview on Inforadio.

"Iran must understand that, if we negotiate, the building of further centrifuges must stop," he said.

Steinmeier said there is currently no prospect of successful talks with Iran, and the EU foreign ministers are expected to decide Tuesday to refer the issue to the UN Security Council.

The foreign minister indicated that the Security Council's five permanent members and Germany had discussed a list of possible sanctions in the summer. He gave no details.

Steinmeier said the sanctions would be calculated "with responsibility for this route back to the negotiating table."

Source: Xinhua