Kicking off a six-day trip, Steinmeier touched down in Kuwait City ahead of stops in Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar -- the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Steinmeier, who is accompanied by a business delegation, will be welcomed at a dinner in his honor held by his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, ahead of formal talks Sunday.

The tour is Steinmeier's first in the region since Chancellor Angela Merkel's government came to power in November.

He told the German daily Der Tagesspiegel in an interview to be published Sunday that he would press Gulf countries to do more to coax Iran away from uranium enrichment, which the West fears could be used to develop a nuclear bomb.

"The Gulf states could make even clearer that the Iranian government, in the interest of the entire Middle East, must ensure that the conflict with the international community does not escalate further," he said.

Steinmeier said a clear condemnation of Iran's nuclear ambitions by its neighbors would "send an important message that this is not a conflict between 'the West' and Iran".

He welcomed statements by the GCC this month that were critical of potential Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Germany has been intensely involved in diplomatic efforts to convince Iran to abandon sensitive nuclear activities, working closely with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

His spokesman, Martin Jaeger, said the Gulf was of great political and economic importance to Germany, which posts about 10 billion euros (13 billion dollars) in exports to the region each year.

Steinmeier is to take up long-term energy supply issues -- an increasing focus of Germany's foreign and security policy -- with leaders from the oil- and gas-rich nations of the region.

He will also address the precarious situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including the EU decision to cut off aid to the Palestinian government after the radical Islamic organization Hamas came to power because it refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence.

And he will discuss the question of Iraq, which Saturday formed its first full-term post-invasion government. The new coalition, which aims to unite a country torn by sectarian bloodshed, still lacks permanent ministers in the key defence and interior posts.

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