MOSCOW, May 11, 2018 (News Wires) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed efforts to preserve the Iran nuclear deal and prevent an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Merkel's office said she spoke with Putin by phone on Friday, a week before the German leader travels to Sochi to meet the Russian president. It said in a statement that they underlined their aim of preserving the Iran deal after the United States' withdrawal, and that both expressed concern about recent developments in the region. An Iranian rocket barrage on Israeli positions in the Golan Heights prompted an Israel attack Thursday on Iranian targets in Syria. Merkel and Putin agreed that it's important to avoid further escalation.