ATTENTION -Mideast quotes ///
Germany and Saudi Arabia said Tuesday they shared deep concern about Iran's disputed nuclear program and that they would work in tandem to achieve a diplomatic solution to the international crisis.
"I am pleased that we share the view that a nuclear-armed Iran must be prevented so an arms race is not set off in the region, creating greater instability," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters in Riyadh after talks with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal.
Prince Saud confirmed plans for the six Gulf Arab nations to send a delegation to Tehran to take up regional fears about Iran's uranium enrichment program.
"We hope that there will be a diplomatic solution and that no further tensions are created," he said, repeating Riyadh's view that the entire region "including Israel" should be free of nuclear weapons.
Israel is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal although it has never publicly confirmed this.
Steinmeier is on a six-day tour of the wealthy Gulf monarchies in a bid to press Iran's neighbors to bring their influence to bear in the standoff with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions.
Germany and its European allies fear that the creation of a nuclear-armed "hegemony" in the region could spark an arms race with incalculable risks.
On each of the stops to date — Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and now Saudi Arabia — Steinmeier's counterparts have stated that the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries intend to send a delegation to Tehran but few details have emerged about its timetable or mandate.
Germany, Britain and France — the so-called EU-3 — are to meet with the United States, Russia and China in London Wednesday in an effort to thrash out their further strategy in confronting the crisis.
Steinmeier and Prince Saud said they also discussed the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and the EU's decision to cut off aid to the Hamas-led Palestinian government until it recognizes Israel, agrees to uphold past accords and renounces violence.
Prince Saud said talks must be "reactivated so two states can live side-by-side" and called Germany a key partner in efforts to return to the "roadmap" for Middle East peace.
Steinmeier asked for "understanding" for Germany's refusal to deal with Hamas until it meets the stated conditions.
He will travel to Bahrain Wednesday before wrapping up the trip Thursday in Qatar.
