germany tells u.s. to back off

German FM warns US of making military threats against Iran

Berlin, March 11, IRNA-German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on America to back away from making military threats against Iran over its nuclear program, the press reported Saturday.

"We must not allow ourselves to be dragged into saber-rattling.

This is the hour of diplomacy," Steinmeier wrote in a guest editorial for the daily Bild am Sonntag due to hit the newsstands on Sunday.

Germany's top diplomat was referring to recent remarks by US Vice President Dick Cheney who issued military threats against Tehran during a speech in front of the pro-Israeli lobbying group American-Israeli Public Affair Committee (AIPAC).

Steinmeier has repeatedly said his country "remains committed to a diplomatic solution" of Iran's nuclear dispute.