Nuclear-armed Iran "not an option": Westerwelle

JERUSALEM (AFP) - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Sunday that a nuclear-armed Iran was "not an option", as he called on Teheran for "substantial negotiations" over its controversial atomic programme.

"We share the Israeli concerns about Iran's nuclear programme," Mr Westerwelle said at the beginning of a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak in Jerusalem.

"A nuclear-armed Iran would not only pose a threat to Israel but to the stability of the entire region. A nuclear-armed Iran is not an option," Mr Westerwelle said.

Teheran insists its atomic programme is completely peaceful, but Israel has warned that a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat and said it would take all necessary steps to prevent that from happening, not ruling out a pre-emptive military strike.