Germany eyes Iran business but Israel tops differences

Teheran

A GERMAN delegation led a much-anticipated international push for new business in Iran on Monday, but a top official visiting Teheran put Israel at the top of their differences.

The remarks by Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's economy minister and Chancellor Angela Merkel's deputy, underscored that despite last week's nuclear deal between Iran and world powers any discussions on wider policy in the Middle East are likely to run into difficulties.

Iran does not recognise Israel - the biggest opponent of the West's diplomatic outreach on the nuclear issue - and officials routinely call for destruction of the leaders of "the Zionist regime".

The nuclear deal has been touted as an opening for greater contact between Iran and the leading nations over common interests, particularly on tac…