Germany called on Friday for a diplomatic solution ahead of this weekend’s crucial nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, after President Donald Trump suggested military action could be an option if the negotiations fail.
The longstanding adversaries, Iran and the United States, are set to meet on Saturday in Muscat to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme. Western nations have expressed concerns that Iran may be pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has consistently denied.
“We need a diplomatic solution,” said Christian Wagner, spokesman for the German foreign ministry, during a press conference. He emphasised that it was a “positive development” that there is a channel for dialogue between the two countries.
Last month, President Trump sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging talks and warning of military action if Tehran refused to negotiate. On Wednesday, Trump further asserted that military action against Iran was “absolutely” possible if the discussions failed to yield an agreement.
Wagner reiterated that Germany remains “extremely concerned” about Iran’s nuclear programme, pointing out that Tehran had “continuously escalated the situation” by significantly expanding its enrichment capacities. “Finding a resolution to this issue becomes increasingly urgent,” he stated.
Germany was one of the key signatories of the historic 2015 agreement with Iran, which saw sanctions lifted in return for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear programme. However, Trump withdrew the United States from the deal during his first term as president, and tensions between the West and Iran have remained high since then.
Iran has held several rounds of talks with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, collectively known as the E3, after resuming engagement with these European powers last year.
Wagner stressed that the “shared goal” of the three European nations was to find a solution that ensures Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, as such a development would have destabilising consequences for the entire region. He added that the European powers were “of course” working “in close coordination with the United States” on this issue.
