CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - German exports to Iran increased by 18 percent in the first four months of 2008, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.

If the first quarter foretells what's in store for the remainder of the year, Germany could export upwards of 4 billion euros to Iran, meeting or surpassing its business in 2005-2206.

Germany does more business with the Islamic state than any other country in the European Union.

Both the US and Israel are pressing for economic sanctions against Iran for its uranium enrichment program and its frequent threats to wipe the Jewish state off the map.

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her nation's trade with Iran has decreased over the past several years, government statistics don't reflect that.

Following a decline in 2007 exports to Iran, Germany exported 1.35 billion euros in exports, which included chemical and iron products, cars, engines and engineering equipment.

Source: Haaretz