Berlin: Germany called on Saturday for the world's leading nuclear powers to reduce their atomic arsenals as they press Iran to curb its nuclear programme.
Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council- United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, to make concessions in the context of the Iran dispute.
"I am in fact of the view that, beyond the current Iran conflict, we must review the worldwide nuclear armament status," Steinmeier was reported as saying in Spiegel magazine.
"We are in favour of effectively applying the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It contains the promise of the nuclear powers disarming, and we should press them to do that," he added.
Germany, a non-nuclear power, and the five permanent U.N. Security Council members have offered Tehran a package under which Iran would get trade and technology benefits if it halts uranium enrichment work.
"So far we have not had a clear sign, or a real reaction. What is positive, however, is that we are apparently for the first time seeing Iran in a state of reflection," Steinmeier said.
He added that he hoped Iran's leadership would "find the way through the open door".
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday that the US had heard some positive statements from Tehran over the offer.
While Iran has claimed that its nuclear programme is for power generation, the US insists that it is a front for building nuclear arms.
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