Berlin (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In an attempt to defuse the Middle East crisis, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Germany, France, and the UK are prepared to begin urgent negotiations with Tehran on its nuclear program.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is currently on a diplomatic mission in the Middle East, aiming to help de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Iran. Wadephul, who is in Oman on Sunday, stated that the crisis won’t be resolved until all sides have an impact on Israel and Iran.
He stated that he was attempting to help defuse the tension between Israel and Iran, pointing out that Tehran had not previously seized the chance for productive negotiations.
Could immediate nuclear negotiations help ease tensions?
“I hope that’s still possible,”
he spoke to German public broadcaster ARD.
“Germany, together with France and Britain are ready. We’re offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear programme, I hope (the offer) is accepted.”
“This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe.”
“There’s a shared expectation that within the next week, a serious attempt must be made on both sides to interrupt the spiral of violence,”
he said. In response to a question on whether he thought the Iranian government could be overthrown, he stated that he assumed Israel had no intention of overthrowing the Tehran government.
What is Germany’s position on the Gaza crisis?
He also turned his attention to Gaza, calling for Israel to grant relief organizations unfettered access, saying the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory was intolerable.
“The hunger, the dying, the suffering of the people in Gaza must come to an end,”
he said, adding that Hamas was to blame for the conflict and that the Islamist group must release hostages held since Hamas-led militants raided Israel in October 2023.
What concerns did Wadephul raise during the Riyadh visit?
Moreover, a day earlier, speaking in Riyadh, Wadephul on Saturday expressed concerns about Germany’s military involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, while calling on both sides to step back.
“I am in favour of de-escalating now and finding a way out of further military confrontation,”
Wadephul stated in the Saudi capital Riyadh after discussions with his counterpart.
“A further escalation of the situation would have incalculable consequences. That is why I would like to appeal to everyone: It is, as they often say, not too late,”
he stated.
