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Netanyahu Tells Merkel Iran Is Greatest Threat To World Security
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, February 9, 2014. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool
24/02/2014
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that Iran's nuclear program was the biggest threat to global security.
"I would like to discuss the ways to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons capability," Netanyahu said in brief public remarks with Merkel at his side at the start of her two-day trip. "I believe that this is the greatest challenge to the security of the world."
Speaking to his cabinet a day earlier, Netanyahu said Germany and other world powers negotiating with Iran needed to take a hard line with the Islamic republic to ensure it cannot "produce or launch nuclear weapons".
Tehran denies it is seeking the capability to make a nuclear bomb.
Merkel, who was accompanied by a high-level, 16-member, German delegation, said she hoped to help find a way to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has for months been trying to nudge both sides at least to agree on a framework deal by the end of April, although months of negotiations have made little visible progress.
"We want progress in these talks - I personally want that as well," Merkel said.
Both leaders said they would discuss ways to strengthen already close ties between their countries.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Alistair Lyon)
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