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Bush, Merkel united on Iran's nuclear threat

They ask other nations to join opposition

(CNN) -- President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on nations around the world Friday to join in opposition to Iran's nuclear activities.

"Iran armed with a nuclear weapon poses a grave threat to the security of the world," said Bush at a joint appearance with Merkel at the White House.

The EU-3 nations of Britain, France and Germany -- which have negotiated with Iran in hopes of reaching a resolution -- together with the United States must work to persuade other nations to join their stance, said Merkel.

"And we will certainly not be intimidated by a country such as Iran," she said.

Bush said their meeting was part of a "proactive" diplomatic effort to determine how best to confront Iran over its fledgling nuclear program and "lay the foundation for peace."

Sidestepping a question about whether he favored sanctions, Bush said, "I'm not going to prejudge what the U.N. Security Council should do. But I recognize that it's logical that a country which has rejected diplomatic entreaties be sent to the United Nations Security Council."

"The current president of Iran has announced that the destruction of Israel is an important part of their agenda, and that's unacceptable," Bush said. "And the development of a nuclear weapon, it seems to me, would make him a step closer to achieving that objective."

On Friday the British Foreign Office said all five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, along with Germany, will meet Monday and Tuesday to discuss the nuclear standoff with Iran.

Senior officials from the EU-3 nations will attend the meeting along with representatives of the United States, China and Russia, the foreign office said in a written statement. All but Germany have veto power over any resolutions.

The meeting will focus on the language of a Security Council resolution that would not draw a Russian or Chinese veto, the statement said.

The United States has welcomed the EU-3's call for the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, to refer the issue to the Security Council. (Full story)

In response Friday, Tehran threatened to block inspections of its nuclear sites and stop working with the IAEA, if such a scenario occurs, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

The move reflects a law passed by Iran last year.

Frustration with Iran builds

The meeting between Merkel and Bush coincided with Russia's appeals to Iran to resume its moratorium on nuclear activities and cooperation with the IAEA. (Full story)

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Russia would abstain, rather than vote against, efforts to move the issue to the Security Council, according to The Washington Post.

As well as possible economic sanctions, there have been calls for cultural and sports boycotts, including banning Iran from soccer's 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The calls resurfaced Friday as Bayern Munich played a match in Iran against Persepolis Tehran, to criticism in Germany. (Full story)

France said Friday that it favored a step-by-step approach over Iran's contested nuclear program and that any sanctions request at this stage would be premature.

Britain's Straw on the other hand didn't rule sanctions out when interviewed on BBC radio Friday.

Despite the threat of U.N. referral, Iran has vowed to press ahead.

"Unfortunately, a group of bullies allows itself to deprive nations of their legal and natural rights," The Associated Press quoted President Ahmadinejad as saying.

"I tell those superpowers that, with strength and prudence, Iran will pave the way to achieving peaceful nuclear energy," he said. "The Iranian nation is not frightened by the powers and their noise."

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