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BERLIN

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Iran on Monday to engage in direct talks with the US about its nuclear program to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting, Wadephul said Iran had not heeded their message during last week’s Geneva talks, which subsequently led to US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend.

“We made it very clear to the Iranian side back then that a real prerequisite for resolving the conflict was Iran is willing to negotiate directly with the US. This message wasn't fully understood at the time, and we will reiterate it now,” the minister said.

“They must know that the world will not accept that a nuclear-armed Iran. We in Europe, just like Israel and the entire region, have an interest in limiting the threat posed by ballistic missiles, this must be addressed in the talks,” Wadephul continued.

“We need a negotiated solution, it is more urgent than ever, and Iran is now required to be willing to engage in direct talks with the United States. We, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in the E3 format—will offer whatever support we can," he added.

During their meeting in Brussels, European foreign ministers will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Wadephul said.

"The Gaza Strip remains a topic that must be discussed here. The humanitarian situation remains unacceptable," the foreign minister said, adding that Berlin continues its diplomatic efforts to convince the Israeli government to allow more humanitarian aid.

Wadephul, however, turned down calls by Spain and Ireland to suspend an EU-Israel Association Agreement due to Israel’s breach of its human rights obligations in the occupied Palestinian territories.

“The German government does not believe that the EU's Association Agreement with Israel should be suspended. We need good relations with Israel. Israel is a democratic state in the Middle East, and Germany is naturally particularly connected to it in a special way. And I advise against further formal discussions on this,” he said.

Germany has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, with political leaders repeatedly emphasizing the country's historical responsibility to Israel stemming from its Nazi past and the crimes committed against Jews during World War II.

However, critics argue that Germany’s unwavering support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is damaging its international credibility and further isolating Berlin on the global stage.

Since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in 2023, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 100,000 others wounded, most of them women and children.

Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza, where at least 1.9 million Palestinians remain displaced and face severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and other essentials.