Diplomatic efforts should be fully exploited over Iranian nuclear issue

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday called on the international community to fully exploit diplomatic efforts over Iran's nuclear issue, rather than discuss the possibility of military solution. In an interview with German newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung's weekend edition, Merkel said Tehran is "apparently not playing the game openly", according to the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which cited "credible" intelligence showing Tehran had conducted programs "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." Merkel viewed what the IAEA report released "very worrying". However, the chancellor believed that "the means, by which we can force Iran to be transparent, have not been exhausted." International community should "exploit all the diplomatic room to manoeuvre and Germany can make a contribution," she added. Instead of debating on whether military attacks could help break the deadlock, world leadership should put sanctions as priority "at the moment", Merkel said. The United States and its allies have long accused Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran firmly denied that, insisting its right for pursuing nuclear power for civilian purpose. On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that his country will not retreat from its nuclear plan. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday warned that an attack towards Iran will not only miss the aim of discouraging Iran from its plans, but also have "serious consequences" for the Middle East and the U.S. troops based there.