German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for an end to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and said that "if the relevant conditions are met, Germany stands ready to contribute militarily to guarantee the freedom of maritime routes." 

Merz was speaking amid a visit to a military training ground in Münster in Lower Saxony on Thursday with Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. 

He said that he had lobbied at a European Council meeting in Cyprus to "increase the sanctions pressure on Iran, because if Hormuz remains blocked, that has massive economic consequences for all of us."

"Our message therefore: Iran must come to the negotiating table, it must stop playing for time, it can no longer take the entire region and even the entire world hostage," Merz said. "The nuclear program of Iran must come to an end. There can be no more strikes against Israel or our partners in the region.*" 

Dressed in military camouflage gear with a "Merz" nametag, the chancellor said his government was in close contact on these matters with allies, "also and particularly in Washington." 

"We are doing this in a collective transatlantic interest. We are doing it with mutual respect and a fair division of labor. And in this, we are following a clear compass, particularly in these turbulent times: this compass stays pointed to a strong NATO and a reliable transatlantic partnership," Merz said. 

The chancellor has entered damage limitation mode in recent days after comments of his about the US being "humiliated" by Iran over the back-and-forth on negotiations in Pakistan elicited President Donald Trump's ire in a series of social media posts, including one where he mulled reducing the US military footprint in Germany. 

IN OTHER OUTLETS:

Merz urges Iran to return to talks and stop “playing for time”

Iran must return to negotiations and stop delaying progress, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said, as reported by Iranian media.

“Iran must come to the negotiating table and stop playing for time,” Merz stressed.

He noted that Germany was seeking to end the blockade “as soon as the conditions are met” and was in close contact with partners, particularly in Washington.

By Jeyhun Aghazada

https://caliber.az/en/post/merz-urges-iran-to-return-to-talks-and-stop-playing-for-time?ysclid=molto3czq0836408474

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comment that Iran is “humiliating” the US was meant as a warning to Iran to negotiate seriously, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Wednesday, Anadolu reports.

“This was a clear warning to Tehran not to misunderstand the whole situation,” Wadephul told German broadcaster DW, adding that the current ceasefire should prompt Iran to reach an agreement rather than stall negotiations.

He warned that the US has deployed significant military capabilities in the region, and that the failure of talks could lead to another escalation.

“What we currently see is that Tehran is playing for time and not really negotiating in a way which is necessary and which is needed,” Wadephul said. “It’s a bad behavior what Iran is right now doing and they are, as I said, misunderstanding their position and overplaying their role.”

Merz on Monday criticized the US for lacking an “exit strategy” in the Iran war, saying Americans were being “humiliated” by the Iranian regime during talks.

READ: Germany’s Merz says US has ‘no exit strategy’ in Iran war, calls Tehran ‘skilled negotiator’

“Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating — or rather, very skillful at not negotiating — and then letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and leave again without any results,” Merz said during a discussion with high school students in the western town of Marsberg.

“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called (Islamic) Revolutionary Guards (Corps),” he added.

The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from US President Donald Trump, who said Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and accused him of accepting Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons.

“I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations or Presidents should have done long ago,” Trump said. “No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise!”

READ: Iran’s missile, drone stockpiles ‘sufficient for years of war,’ lawmaker says

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20260429-german-foreign-minister-merz-comment-on-us-humiliation-was-warning-to-iran/

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