Following Trump’s postponed ultimatum to Iran, CDU foreign‑affairs expert Norbert Röttgen criticized the U.S. president. When asked who he believes has more credibility in the alleged U.S.-Iran negotiations, Röttgen told RTL and ntv: “You probably have to answer that the Iranian side possesses more credibility”. Trump had claimed that talks were progressing well, a claim Iran rejected.
Röttgen said the approach shows a weakness in Trump’s war strategy. He noted that Trump makes threats, then retracts them with a claim that the Iranian government counters such allegations. “Thus, Trump’s role here does not look good” Röttgen said. He also questioned the U.S. lack of a clear strategy for the Strait of Hormuz, calling the American conduct “erratic and contradictory” and warning that it would cause market instability.
He stated that a swift end to the conflict in Iran without toppling the regime is undesirable. “If you start this, it is essential that specific goals are achieved” he argued. Röttgen highlighted that the Iranian regime has proved it can maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, and that if the regime survives and retains enriched uranium, it could emerge from the war strengthened. “This would ultimately reinforce the regime and permanently weaken the United States geopolitically” he warned.
The expert urged that the U.S. must prevent this outcome. “It is in our interest that the Iranian regime falls; it would not be in our interest if the U.S. loses” he said. Otherwise, Germany, the rest of Europe, and Gulf states would remain vulnerable to Iran’s coercive power.