Germany urges Israel and Iran to de-escalate and resume diplomatic talks
Germany urged Israel and Iran to de-escalate and return to diplomatic talks on Monday after their military confrontation intensified again over the weekend, according to statements made at a government briefing in Berlin.
Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said Berlin is calling on all parties “to de-escalate and advance diplomatic solutions,” stressing that negotiations have been underway for some time. He also reaffirmed Germany’s “support for the US president's efforts to reach an agreement” with Iran.
The Foreign Ministry echoed the same line. Spokesman Josef Hinterseher said a lasting end to the conflict can only be achieved through negotiations and warned that the current escalation should not derail talks between Iran and the United States.
“The talks between Iran and the United States must not be jeopardized by the current situation,” Hinterseher said, describing them as a prerequisite for any diplomatic solution.
Tensions surged on Sunday after Israel bombed Beirut, the Lebanese capital, despite an ongoing ceasefire. Iran then launched missiles toward northern Israel in retaliation, and Israel responded with several waves of airstrikes against Iran, the report said.
The latest clashes follow a broader regional crisis that intensified after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February, which prompted Iranian retaliation against Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets. A temporary ceasefire was reached on April 8, but negotiations later stalled amid disputes over implementation and changing regional developments.