Federal Minister Friedrich Merz (CDU) remains steadfast in his criticism of US policies regarding the conflict in Iran. Following questions from the dpa news agency concerning whether the Chancellor intended to retract any of his statements after speaking with US President Donald Trump, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius denied the possibility on Monday.
Kornelius confirmed that “the Chancellor has stated his views on the Iran conflict multiple times”. However, he clarified that the central focus of the disagreement remains the necessity for Iran to cease its provocations. Furthermore, the source emphasized that Iran must halt its nuclear and missile programs and submit itself to international oversight. The goal, according to Kornelius, is for Iran to return to the negotiating table, after which discussions must primarily revolve around the Strait of Hormuz.
Recently, the relationship between Trump and Merz had been strained. This tension flared after the Chancellor publicly stated at a school event that the US lacked a proper strategy for the conflict in Iran. Trump reacted immediately with criticism directed at the German Chancellor and even announced the withdrawal of several thousand US troops from Germany.
The phone call that took place on Friday was apparently an effort to smooth over these diplomatic tensions. Kornelius reassured the public that the atmosphere of the conversation had been “very good”. He added that the discussion “circled around the major issues we are currently facing” which included topics like Ukraine and Iran. While the spokesman declined to offer further details citing confidentiality, he stressed the positive outcome of the conversation.
