Tehran repeats criticism of Germany, but no review of ties

Aug 24, 2009, 7:17 GMT

Tehran - Tehran on Monday rejected reviewing diplomatic ties with Germany, while repeating its criticism of a recent threat by German Chancellor Angela Merkel on renewing sanctions against Iran if the Islamic republic's nuclear negotiations with world powers failed.

'Mrs Merkel should follow a realistic line toward Tehran and build cooperation instead of confrontation,' said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghawi at a press conference in Tehran.

Merkel, in remarks published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Friday, said that if there was no progress in the course of nuclear talks, the West should react with sanctions.

She added that Iran, whose president has constantly questioned Israel's right to exist, should not be allowed to have an atomic bomb.

Mohammad Karami, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's foreign policy commission, said Saturday that the parliament planned to review diplomatic ties with Germany over Merkel's remarks.

Ghashghawi rejected Karami's statement as the private opinion of a parliamentarian.

Merkel has not congratulated Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his controversial May re-election, angering both Iran's president and parliament.

The foreign ministry spokesman however commented that Merkel should have known that in the last four years Iran has continued its 'internationally recognized right' to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme, and that all threats and ultimatums in this regard will only meet with resistance.