Germany's Scholz 'regrets' no positive response from Iran on nuclear deal

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz voiced regret Monday that Iran has failed to agree to proposals from European countries on reviving a deal on restricting its nuclear program, warning that this would put any accord out of reach "in the near future". 

"I regret that Iran has not yet given a positive response to proposals from the European coordinators," he told a press conference during a visit to Berlin by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

"There is now actually no reason for Iran not to agree to these proposals.

"But we have to note that this is not the case, and will not happen certainly in the near future."

Germany is one of three European nations party to the agreement, along with France and Britain.

Speaking alongside Scholz, Lapid -- who is visiting Germany in a bid to persuade Western powers to ditch the deal with Tehran -- said it was "time to move past the failed negotiations with Iran. 

"They cannot and will not achieve the goal we all share to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon."