Germany considers Iran relations

The German Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel, has been speaking of his desire for a new beginning in relations with Iran.

In an interview to be published in the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper on Monday, he's reported as saying Germany is considering ways of extending new export credits to Iran, and that he hoped the two countries would be able to discuss difficult issues.

He says German industry was pressing the government to expand the credits, and that it may be willing to give special guarantees for individual projects.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service