Longtime adversaries Iran and the US are set to hold talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme this Saturday, in which Germany has urged for a “diplomatic solution”.
In a conference on Friday, German foreign ministry spokesman Christian Wagner stressed the need for a diplomatic solution, emphasizing “positive development that there is a channel for dialogue between Iran and the United States”.
Initially, Trump had urged on holding talks directly; however, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, insisted on indirectly talking through US envoy Steve Witkoff.
On April 9, Trump had urged that a military action was absolutely “possible” if the talks between both countries fail at producing a deal.
The talks are to be held in Muscat, Oman, which has previously mediated between the West and Tehran.
Christian Wagner emphasised that the shared goal was to find a solution so that “ Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, as this would have enormous destabilising effects on the entire region”
Wagner said that “Finding a resolution to this issue becomes increasingly urgent” and that Germany “remains extremely concerned about the Iranian nuclear programme… Iran has continuously escalated the situation, significantly expanding enrichment capacities.”
In 2003, Iran had negotiated with EU3 (the UK, France and Germany) over its nuclear programme.
In 2015, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, struck a security accord with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This imposed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
In 2018, the US under President Trump withdrew from this deal, claiming that they failed to contain Iran’s regional influence and missile programme.
Last year, Iran had engaged in several rounds of talks with EU3 about its nuclear programme. On the other hand, Trump said that “there will be bombing” if Iran does not follow through with an agreement, as reported by Reuters earlier this year.
