Germany urges Iran to reopen Hormuz, says nothing about US blockade
Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul has called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dismantle its nuclear programme, following talks with his Iranian counterpart. Iran a right under international law to pursue nuclear enrichment and it has denied having a nuclear weapons programme.
In a post on X, Wadephul said Berlin remains aligned with Washington on Iran policy.
“As a close US ally we share the same goal: Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately release the Strait of Hormuz as [US] Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio also demands,” he wrote.
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on European allies over their refusal to join Washington’s war alongside Israel against Iran. Wadephul made no mention of the US blackade on the Strait of Hormouz.
Trump has criticised several European leaders, including Friedrich Merz, Pedro Sanchez and Keir Starmer, as divisions deepen across the alliance.
Merz last week openly questioned the US approach, warning that Washington risks failure in the conflict and describing the situation as one in which the United States is being “humiliated” by Iran’s leadership.