Germany: Force will not change Iran

Abu Dhabi: Iran's nuclear aspirations cannot be changed by force and, in a conflict with Iran, there would be no winning side, according to Joschka Fischer former Foreign Minister of Germany.

"Waging war on Iraq has had a destabilising effect on the region and this destabilisation will worsen if military action is taken against Iran. Iran's nuclear aspirations cannot be changed by force," Fischer said in a lecture held at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research.

He explained that in Iran "we face two major challenges: regional Iranian hegemony, and the Iranian nuclear programme."

Fischer believes that the effects of war in Iraq can be contained if wise leadership prevails in the region and in Washington. "Once 'Balkanisation' starts in the Middle East, we don't know how or where it will end."