New York, NY, August 11, 2008 … Noting German Chancellor Angela Merkel's forceful statements on the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today urged her to "put the weight of German law behind the moral imperative" with sanctions that would limit German and European involvement in Iran's oil and gas industries.

"We believe that the gravity of the Iranian situation precludes depending upon the consciences of individual business leaders," said Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "Now is the time for Germany to put the weight of German law behind the moral imperative and codify the important political stance that it has taken at the federal and European Union levels."

In a letter to Chancellor Merkel, the League called on Germany to promote legislation and regulations that would "… aim to limit German and European companies' involvement in Iran's oil and gas sectors, industries that require the technology of Western energy companies for their most important projects and which provide the funding for the Iranian regime's development of a nuclear weapons capability.

"Madame Chancellor, we look forward to your leadership for sanctions on Iran that are commensurate with the magnitude of the Iranian threat and able to change the Iranian regime's determination to acquire a nuclear weapons capability," the letter continued.

Germany has taken a lead role in speaking out against the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran.  In a November 2007 interview with Die Welt, Chancellor Merkel said of German business with Iran: "The signs indicate that, if things continue to move further in a negative direction, we, too, will limit our commercial activities." 

In March 2008, ADL expressed appreciation for Chancellor Merkel's statements about the need to increase pressure on Iran as long as it fails to meet its international obligations regarding its nuclear program.   

A backgrounder on the Iranian nuclear threat is available at: http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Semitism_International/iranian_threat_faq.htm

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.