"I can only warn Iran to comply with the international community and the IAEA," Merkel said in her first speech to parliament since becoming chancellor last week.

Germany and its European Union partners France and Britain had led negotiations with Iran about its controversial nuclear programme in a bid to ensure it is not seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.

The talks were halted in August when Tehran rejected an offer of trade and other incentives and broke an agreement to suspend uranium work.

The IAEA last week held off on referring Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions because it said it wanted to give a Russian mediation effort a chance to make progress.

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