MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged on Saturday to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons.

    Speaking at the annual Munich security conference, Merkel said that the international community must work together to stop Iran's nuclear program, which she said raised "legitimate suspicions" of being for military use.

    Referring Iranian leader's remarks over Israel, Merkel said, "Iran has overstepped a red line."

    She called for the establishment of a broad international partnership to prevent Iran from developing nuclear program.

    "We want, we must prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program further," Merkel said.

    "The concerns and fears over Iran's nuclear program are legitimate," and Iran did not deserve to be shown "any tolerance," she added.

    Merkel said Iran was a threat to Europe as well as Israel. But the German leader made it clear that diplomacy rather than military action was the way to deal with the threat.

    "Diplomatic avenues need to be exhausted. We need to keep our nerves, go step by step," she said.

    The 35-member board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency had voted earlier on Saturday to refer the Iran nuclear issue to the Security Council with three votes against and five abstentions.

    Following the decision, Iran said it would resume industrial-scale uranium enrichment at the facilities in the central town of Natanze in accordance with to a law ratified late last year by the Iranian Majlis (Parliament). Enditem