Germany-Iran-Nuclear
A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday reiterated the need for a diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear dispute.

Talking to journalists in Berlin, Thomas Steg stressed there was no alternative towards a peaceful, political and diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear standoff.

He made clear that the Iran strategy of the 5 plus 1 group was "promising".

Meanwhile, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said that the Iranian reply to the European nuclear cooperation proposal included "several aspects" which have caught the attention of the German side.

He hinted at the possibility of using the above mentioned aspects as a "starting point" for future Iranian-European nuclear talks.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana are scheduled to meet in the Swiss city of Geneva on July 19.

Jalili will visit Geneva following an invitation by Solana as the 5 plus 1 group has welcomed continued talks between the top EU envoy and the Iranian official on the basis of common denominators in the Iranian and the 5 plus 1 proposals.