German official urges Iran to “improve relations with Israel”

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel Sunday urged Iran to improve relations with Israel if it wants to form closer economic ties. Gabriel, who is also German economy ministry, He is the first major western politician to visit Iran since a nuclear deal was agreed on July 14. He brought with him a group of German businessmen including Siemens and Volkswagen executives. Gabriel offered German mediation between Iran and Israel, adding:” Questioning Israel’s right to existence is something we Germans cannot accept,” he told a gathering of German and Iranian businesspeople in Tehran. DEBKAfile: The German minister did not demand Iran’s recognition of Israel, as some media reported, or make relations with Israel a condition for economic ties and trade with Tehran.