German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) said that a swift resolution to the conflict in Iran is unlikely. “I believe we still need to allow some time for it to continue” he told the ARD program “Tagesthemen” on Tuesday evening.
Wadephul arrived at this assessment after visiting Israel, meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and during a telephone conversation the night before with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Rubio. “Both sides still see the main objective as destroying the arsenal Iran has accumulated, especially the large production activities” he explained. “Naturally this includes the nuclear program and, more importantly, the ballistic‑missile program that threatens Israel, the region, and even Europe”.
He stressed that Germany can play a constructive role in ending the war. “We can discuss with our partners under what conditions this conflict might be sustained, what its consequences are, and what issues must be taken into account for us” Wadephul said.
During his visit he mentioned possible new refugee crises and rising energy prices, both of which he brought up in conversations. He also urged attention to the Iranian people who have suffered under the regime, and to the need to preserve Iran’s territorial integrity. “We must ensure there is no chaos in the country; such a situation would benefit no one” he added. “We must also work to prevent any further expansion of the conflict” Wadephul noted, observing that many Gulf states share this concern.