The Spanish Foreign Minister later traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah for meetings with the Palestinian leadership. His statements came one day before Arab foreign ministers are set to meet in Cairo to decide whether to endorse face-to-face negotiations. In recent weeks, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell has been mediating indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr. Moratinos also reassured Israel about EU sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program. The Spanish Foreign Minister said that recent sanctions on Iran's energy, foreign trade and banking sectors sent a clear message to the Tehran government.

"It is a double track approach, of course, to have a very clear position on sanctions, not only on [the United Nations] Security Council, but specific new measures from the European Union on the financial side - on the oil and gas sector, in all elements that can give to Iran a very clear message that they have to move and respond to the requirements of the international community," he said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad criticized the EU sanctions, but said they would have no effect on Iran. Mr. Ahmadinejad later added that his country is willing to resume nuclear talks with the West next month if world powers are allowed to express their view on Israel's alleged nuclear arsenal.

The Iranian president also said Turkey and Brazil must be included in the discussions. Earlier this year, those two countries tried to negotiate a nuclear fuel swap deal with Iran.