Germany Calls on Iran to Enter U.S. Talks

(MENAFN) On Monday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Iran to initiate direct negotiations with the United States in an effort to ease rising tensions surrounding its nuclear program.

Speaking in Brussels ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Wadephul criticized Tehran for disregarding previous diplomatic messages during last week’s Geneva discussions, which were followed by American airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

“We made it very clear to the Iranian side back then that a real prerequisite for resolving the conflict was Iran is willing to negotiate directly with the US. This message wasn't fully understood at the time, and we will reiterate it now,” he stated.

Wadephul stressed the international community’s firm stance against a nuclear-armed Iran, emphasizing the need to address Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities during negotiations.

“They must know that the world will not accept that a nuclear-armed Iran. We in Europe, just like Israel and the entire region, have an interest in limiting the threat posed by ballistic missiles, this must be addressed in the talks,” he said.

Pushing for diplomacy, Wadephul added: “We need a negotiated solution, it is more urgent than ever, and Iran is now required to be willing to engage in direct talks with the United States. We, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in the E3 format—will offer whatever support we can."

The foreign ministers gathered in Brussels are also set to deliberate over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Wadephul confirmed.

"The Gaza Strip remains a topic that must be discussed here. The humanitarian situation remains unacceptable," he said, noting Germany's ongoing diplomatic outreach to persuade Israel to allow increased aid access into the besieged enclave.

Despite rising criticism from EU members like Spain and Ireland, Wadephul firmly opposed halting the EU-Israel Association Agreement over alleged human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories.

“The German government does not believe that the EU's Association Agreement with Israel should be suspended. We need good relations with Israel. Israel is a democratic state in the Middle East, and Germany is naturally particularly connected to it in a special way. And I advise against further formal discussions on this,” he argued.

Germany has consistently voiced strong support for Israel, a stance rooted in its historical accountability stemming from the Holocaust and World War II atrocities committed against Jews.

However, critics assert that Germany’s unwavering backing of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration risks undermining its global standing and increasing its diplomatic isolation.

Since the start of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in 2023, over 56,000 Palestinians have been reported killed, with more than 100,000 injured—many of them women and children. The humanitarian toll continues to grow, with at least 1.9 million Palestinians displaced and facing critical shortages of food, medical supplies, and basic necessities.

Israel is currently on trial at the International Court of Justice, facing allegations of genocide related to its actions in Gaza.

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