Germany has asked the United States to join Europe in ending the isolation of Iran.

German Defense Minister Peter Struck says Iran needs economic and security incentives in order to abandon it's nuclear ambitions.

He made the comments Saturday, at the 41st annual security conference, meeting in Munich, Germany.

Mr. Struck opened the conference by suggesting a lesser role for NATO in Iraq, while advocating a more direct coordination between the European Union and the United States.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asked attendees to put aside their differences over Iraq and unite in the global war on terrorism.

Other speakers today include top defense officials from Iran, Russia and Egypt.

The security conference is set against the backdrop of NATO's recent decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, North Korea's claim to have nuclear weapons, and Iran's developing nuclear capabilities.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.