Merkel, Blair to Focus on Iran

CNN News:

Chancellor Angela Merkel was to meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair here Friday for talks that were expected to focus on Iran and the situation in the Middle East. READ MORE

It will be the second meeting of the two leaders since Merkel came to power in November, in a sign that Germany is seeking to improve relations with the British which were strained under her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, over his opposition to the Iraq war.

Britain, Germany and France led months of talks with Tehran in an effort to guarantee Iran's nuclear program remained peaceful.

The negotiations collapsed last month when Iran said it was resuming its uranium enrichment program, and the Europeans joined the United States in a successful effort to get the issue referred to the U.N. Security Council.

After Berlin, Blair will travel Friday to Budapest, Hungary, where he planned to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.