Facing the Near East conflict, rising energy prices, and stalled negotiations with Iran, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for patience, consistency, and unity. Speaking to RTL’s “Nachtjournal Spezial” during his trip to Rabat, Morocco, Wadephul stressed the collective necessity for solidarity.
Regarding Iran, Wadephul stated that the country is in a “catastrophically poor economic situation” and has been “significantly militarily defeated”. Consequently, he suggested that Tehran will eventually be compelled to return to the negotiating table. He emphasized that Europe, the United States, and Gulf states share a unified position that Iran must be contained and must not continue to destabilize the world through proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Additionally, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz was identified as a critical requirement. Wadephul concluded that by demonstrating strong solidarity with their global partners, they would succeed.
Shifting focus to the Ukraine war, Wadephul expressed a continued degree of confidence. He noted that Russia has made no progress and is losing “an incredible number of soldiers” arguing that a fresh round of negotiations is therefore required. He suggested that the ongoing Iran crisis is currently tying up key US negotiators. This, he contended, implies that Europeans must, in the end, assume a stronger role. Despite the challenges, Wadephul remains convinced that an agreement with Russia is possible.
