German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said today military force should not be used to resolve the issue of Iran's controversial nuclear programme.
"In our view, it should not come to military intervention," Schroeder said at a reception of his ruling Social Democrats in Berlin. "This resolve should be clear to all of our friends."
He said efforts to find a political solution must continue. US President George W. Bush said last week he would not rule out military action against Iran if Tehran was not more forthcoming about its programme, which the US says is an attempt by the country to develop its own nuclear weapons.
In response, the Iranian Defence Ministry said the country had the military might to deter attacks against it.
Iran denies it has been trying to make nuclear weapons and says its programme is solely geared to generating electricity. Mr Schroeder, a staunch opponent of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, also repeated his call for Washington to step up its efforts to help resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Britain, Germany and France have sought to persuade Tehran to give up technology that could be used to make nuclear warheads in return for incentives such as trade deals and help with a civilian nuclear programme.