May 3 (Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will use a visit to the U.S. starting today to stress that her government stands united with President George W. Bush in efforts to halt Iran's suspected nuclear-weapons program. Merkel, 51, will address the annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington tomorrow. She'll express in "clear terms" that international consensus on action is the "right approach" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear arms, Karsten Voigt, the German Foreign Ministry's adviser on U.S. relations, said in an interview yesterday. "Germany is already playing an integral role in the Iran diplomacy," said Voigt, 65. Merkel's meeting with Bush "is important for the course of action and should help clarify the next steps."
Merkel, who took office in November, is making her second U.S. visit in less than four months as she attempts to improve relations, which hit a post-World War II low under her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder. Merkel's stress on unity with Bush contrasts with Schroeder's refusal to support the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.