Berlin, Jan. 25, 2010, SPA -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel today warned Iran that it risked increased sanctions if it does not soon cooperate with investigations into a suspected nuclear weapons programme, according to dpa. "Time is running out," said Merkel, speaking at an annual reception for German diplomats. She warned that further sanctions are on the table failing Iranian cooperation. "It would be a tragedy for the people of Iran if it came to that." Germany is one of the main countries negotiating with Iran to find a way to get it to give up its nuclear processing capabilities, which Iran claims are for civilian energy purposes, but which some Western analysts fear are for a nuclear programme. --SPA 22:44 LOCAL TIME 19:44 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/741688