BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday reaffirmed the need for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear row amid the latest Israeli military threats.

Asked about Berlin's reaction to comments by Israel's Chief of General Staff Aviv Kohavi who said his country accelerated plans for a potential strike on Iran, Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger told media representatives in Berlin, "We have taken note of these statements. They (statements) stand for themselves. We are working on a diplomatic solution."

Israel also approved a $1.5 billion budget to be used to prepare its military for a potential strike against Iran's nuclear program, according to Israel's Channel 12 on Monday.

Burger stressed it was "very important" that Tehran swiftly return to the nuclear talks in Vienna.

The EU stepped up diplomatic efforts to get Iran and the US back to the negotiation table.

The last round of negotiations on resuming talks took place in Vienna in June.

The nuclear deal was signed in 2015 by Iran, the US, China, Russia, France, the UK, Germany, and the EU.

Under the agreement, Tehran committed to limiting its nuclear activity to civilian purposes and in return, world powers agreed to drop economic sanctions against Iran.

But the US, under former President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal.