Merkel Threatens Action on Iran Nukes, Rules Out Military Force

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Wednesday that the international community would take action if Iran refused to give up its nuclear program but again ruled out any use of military force.

"Iran's answers have not satisfied us," Merkel said in a speech to parliament. "The door for diplomacy will not be shut but we will not merely look on while Iran breaks the rules without taking action."

Merkel said doing nothing "was not an option" while Iran ignored calls by the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to end its uranium enrichment program.

Merkel's comments were among the strongest from a European leader since Iran ignored an Aug. 31 UN deadline to stop enriching uranium.

The chancellor did not give any details of any future measures but again underlined that Berlin opposes any talk of using force against Tehran. Instead, she called on the international community to remain unified in its diplomatic efforts.

"It is especially important to maintain the unity of the international community of states," she said. "But the military option is not an option for Iran."

Deadline passed

Iran's nuclear program is widely believed to be aimed at building nuclear weapons. The Iranian government says its nuclear research is for peaceful purposes. A UN deadline for Tehran to halt uranium enrichment in exchange for a package of diplomatic and economic incentives expired on August 31.

Meanwhile, the meeting between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and the European Union's chief diplomat Javier Solana is expected to be held soon, Iran's Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said Wednesday.

"The two sides will definitely meet, possibly on Friday, and are currently in contact to fix the date and venue," Mottaki said at a press conference in Tehran.

Larijani and Solana were supposed to get together Wednesday before the meeting of the five United Nations Security Council veto powers plus Germany in Berlin. The meeting was postponed due to unknown reasons.

Mottaki termed negotiations the best option for removing western concerns over Iran's nuclear programs and rejected other channels, including the UN Security Council, as ineffective.

While the EU and the US have warned that an end to diplomacy will mean the issue is taken to the United Nations for discussions on possible sanctions, this is opposed by Russia and China, both veto-wielding members of the Security Council.