"We must prevent the nuclear threat that is coming from Iran," Angela Merkel told an international security policy conference in Munich.
She said Europe offered Iran cooperation, adding that these proposals "benefit, above all, the Iranian people."
The conference organizer confirmed Friday that the head of Iran's National Security Council had not turned up at the forum.
Ali Larijani had been scheduled to speak at the February 9-11 Munich Conference on Security Policy. However, IRNA news agency reported earlier in the day that Ali Larijani had canceled his trip due to illness.
Asked by RIA Novosti about the official's absence, Horst Teltschik confirmed that the Iranian side had said it was due to illness.
The 43rd international security conference in Munich is devoted to the 50th anniversary of the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin is attending at the invitation of the German chancellor. More than 250 state and political figures from more than 40 nations are taking part in the event.
Germany holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union until July, and is also one of the six mediating parties on the international dispute surrounding Iran's nuclear program.
