Germany is committed to halting Iran’s nuclear program, despite the fact that the United States National Intelligence Estimate (nie) that says Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

The Associated Press reported that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke to the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (iaea) on Thursday, saying that the international community has to get tough on Iran. “The problem is not solved,” he said. “The conflict over Iran’s nuclear program remains.”

This speech was a prelude to a German meeting with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, to be held in Berlin this Tuesday. The purpose of this meeting is to impose a third set of sanctions against Iran until it halts its uranium enrichment program and meets other Security Council demands.

As America becomes less and less committed to decisively dealing with the Iranian threat, Berlin will take up the mantle of Middle East policeman. Watch for Germany to become more and more aggressive in how it deals with Iran and radical Islam.

For more information on Germany’s future role in the Middle East, read The King of the South.