BERLIN (Press TV) – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier Monday declared he is opposed to any immediate sanctions against Iran over its nuclear policies.

"The UN Security Council's most recent resolution does not contain any automatic mechanism for a situation in which Iran does not fulfill its obligations," Steinmeier told the daily Handelsblatt.

Steinmeier also urged western powers to stick to diplomacy in the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, citing the recent agreement with North Korea as an example.

"It could be that in the case of Iran the economic pressure must be increased, if nothing else works," Steinmeier said.

"But I'm hoping for a different solution."

Steinmeier also dismissed U.S. claims that Iranian missiles are a danger to Europe.

"Based on maps which outline the range of rockets, this is not presently the case," Steinmeier stressed.

U.S. officials have said the deployment of an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe is an effort to neutralize the threat of missiles fired from Iran.

Last December, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment and warned that it would adopt further nonmilitary sanctions if Tehran refuses to comply.

Iran holds that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it is solely aimed at meeting the country's growing electricity needs.