Merkel says sanctions on Iranian regime to be discussed in Washington

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the opportunity to discuss possible sanctions against Iranian regime at the nuclear security summit starting in Washington Monday, DPA reported.

"Time is pressing," Merkel said in Berlin before her departure. She was referring to debate on whether to penalize Iranian regime for its failure to comply with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demands over its controversial nuclear programme, the report added.

The chancellor said it was good that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao would both be present at the Washington summit. Both countries have been reticent about applying sanctions to Iranian regime.