Ready for Sanctions

Speaking ahead of Monday's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the central German town of Wiesbaden, Merkel said that the international community continued to worry about the Iranian nuclear crisis as Tehran had ignored binding resolutions by the UN Security Council and demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Together with our partners France, England, America, Russia and China, we've searched for ways again and again to bring Iran back to the negotiating table," Merkel told the Web site of German daily Die Welt in response to a question on whether Germany had become too dependent on US foreign policy.

"Since Iran didn't accept -- even though we made constructive offers -- and since it still doesn't fulfill the demands of the international community, we had to choose the path of sanctions in the UN Security Council," the chancellor said, adding that China and Russia supported the sanctions

"We cannot close our eyes to the dangers," she said. "I strongly support finding a diplomatic solution, but we also need to be ready to impose further sanctions if Iran does not budge. It threatens Israel's security, which is non-negotiable for me as German chancellor. It threatens the region, Europe, and the world. We have to prevent that."

Putin goes ahead with Iran visit

The topic was also expected to dominate Merkel's talks with Putin on Monday ahead of a joint attendance of an annual Russian-German forum, the St. Petersburg Dialogue.

Putin meanwhile confirmed that he will travel to Tehran later on Monday despite a reported assassination plot by suicide bombers.

Putin is expected to attend a summit of Caspian Sea heads of state on Tuesday before holding talks with Iranian leaders on Wednesday.