"On the part of the federal government, we have made it clear that there cannot be normal friendly relations with Iran, as long as the existence of Israel is not recognized, even though Iran has agreed to a landmark deal curbing its nuclear activities,’’ German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday in Berlin at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘’Relations can only fully normalize when Iran recognizes the existence of Israel, ‘’ she insisted. "This is made clear in all discussions of our ministers."

Netanyahu and several of his cabinet ministers are in Berlin for the sixth Israel-Germany Government-to-Government meeting.

Following the nuclear agreement with Iran Germany has intensified its economic and political exchanges with the country. German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) was the first Western leader to travel to Tehran in July while Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) had already been there twice since the signing of the deal.

However, there is not yet an invitation from Merkel to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Germany, daily Bild newspaper writes, noting that on his first trip to Europe in January after the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran, Rohani only visited Italy and France.

In Brussels, during a debate in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on Tuesday, in the presence of Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, MEPs said that after the nuclear deal with Tehran there is room to develop EU-Iran relations ‘’but not at the expense of human rights.’’

MEPs welcomed the deal as opening up the possibility of strengthening EU-Iran trade, economic, cultural and environmental ties. However, the human rights situation in Iran, the death penalty, public executions and the prosecution of bloggers and journalists are unacceptable and will serve as a litmus test for future relations, MEPs said.