Germany, France reinforce Iran sanctions threat

Germany and France on Monday reinforced a call for Iran to respond to concerns about its nuclear program in September or face tougher sanctions, and said they wanted wide international agreement on those measures.

"Initiatives must be taken during the month of September" French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after meeting Merkel. If it does not, he said, "Germany and France will be united in calling for a strengthening of sanctions." Merkel stated, "Iran should know that we mean this very seriously." (AP)