Latest news with #JohannWadephul
LBCI
5 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
German Minister says Europe open to talks if Tehran shows 'serious' willingness to offer nuclear guarantees
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday that Germany and its European partners are open to further discussions with Iran if Tehran shows a serious willingness to provide guarantees regarding its nuclear and missile programs. Speaking ahead of a meeting with Iran's foreign minister in Geneva, Wadephul stated, 'My colleagues in the UK and France, as well as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, consistently emphasize our readiness for dialogue.' He added, 'This requires a serious willingness from Iran to abandon any enrichment of nuclear materials that could lead to weaponization. It also requires including the missile program. If such genuine willingness is present, our position is clear: we are ready for further talks.' Reuters
The South African
a day ago
- Politics
- The South African
UN Rights office calls for end to Iran-Israel crisis
UN Rights Chief Volker Türk called for an immediate end to the Iran-Israel conflict in his opening speech to the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on 16 June 2025. Moreover, he called the civilian suffering 'deeply worrying', urging compliance with international humanitarian law and diplomacy to prevent more bloodshed. Consequently, from 13 June 2025, Israel has struck Iran's military nuclear sites, hitting centrifuge plants near Tehran and Natanz. The attacks reportedly killed senior Iranian military and nuclear personnel. As a result, Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles and drones towards Tel Aviv. Furthermore, the assault resulted in civilian casualties and extensive damage to the country's infrastructure. Although Israel and Iran have implemented flight suspensions and mass evacuations, which have affected tens of thousands of civilians. On June 18, 2025, Russia warned the United States that direct military aid to Israel could destabilise the Middle East. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the escalation and for Iran to recommit to nuclear non-proliferation. Without doubt, the G7 leaders called for restraint from all parties and reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defence under international law. Subsequently, Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed between 220 and 500 people, and missile barrages killed 24 civilians and injured over 800. The Times of Israel and others report over 300 000 evacuated in large numbers from Tehran's District 18. Just as focus shifts to the Iran-Israel conflict, UN agencies warn that Gaza's situation may face worsening conditions and require uncommon aid levels. UN Rights Chief Volker Türk pushed UN members on 16 June 2025 to 'wake up' to Gaza and the Middle East's intensifying humanitarian crisis. In response to stopping regional instability, he demanded an immediate ceasefire, quick humanitarian access, and immediate diplomatic measures. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continues to endorse de-escalation and adherence to international law. At the same time, the UN has not announced any official mediation initiative. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Foreign ministers from Germany, France, UK to meet with Iran's FM
BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his counterparts in France and the United Kingdom (UK) are planning to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday, German Press Agency (dpa) has learned from diplomatic sources. Wadephul had adjusted his originally planned Middle East trip to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel immediately after the start of Israel's attack on Iran on Friday. Instead, he travelled to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman for crisis talks. The government in Oman, in particular, has very strong contacts with Tehran. With this meeting, Wadephul is aiming to coordinate an initiative involving the so-called E3 state - Germany, France, and the UK - which have been negotiating with Tehran over its nuclear programme for years, as well as with neighbouring Arab states, to achieve a diplomatic solution to the war. For nearly two months, the United States and Iran had been negotiating under the mediation of Oman before Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Friday, targeting nuclear facilities, military installations, and sites in major cities. Iran has responded with intense missile strikes against Israel.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
European Ministers Set For Nuclear Talks With Iranians This Week
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Britain plan to speak with their Iranian counterparts later this week with a goal to sit down on Friday in Geneva, according to Reuters, who cited a German diplomatic source. Newsweek reached out to the French Embassy to the United States, the German Federal Foreign Office, the British Foreign Ministry, and the European Union External Action Office by email Wednesday for comment. Why It Matters Israel last week struck Iran with a wave of airstrikes, which it described as a "preemptive" offensive based on "high-quality intelligence" that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. The strikes hit a variety of Iranian targets, including military personnel and nuclear scientists, in what Israeli leadership has called "Operation Rising Lion." Iran quickly retaliated, setting off six days of exchanges that has left Iran and Israel bloodied. Israel's strikes have killed at least 585 people in Iran - including 239 civilians - and wounded another 1,300, according to a human rights group that has long tracked the country, Washington-based Human Rights Activists. Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures. Israel has said 24 people have been killed since Friday and 500 more have been wounded, according to Israeli officials. Israel has also attacked Iran's state-run television network and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to rule out killing Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Both developments further fueled concerns among those on the left and the right that Israel is aiming for regime change in Iran, a charge Netanyahu has denied, though he's said Israel would welcome a collapse. A view of the ruins in Bnei Brak on June 17, 2025, where an Iranian ballistic missile landed Monday. INSET: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul gives a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart (not in... A view of the ruins in Bnei Brak on June 17, 2025, where an Iranian ballistic missile landed Monday. INSET: German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul gives a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart (not in picture) at the Foreign Office in Berlin on June 18, 2025. More Dima Vazinovich / Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images // John MacDougall/ AFP via Getty Images What To Know The meeting will follow another planned meeting with the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas at the German permanent mission in Geneva. The source said the talks are not happening in a vacuum but will take place in coordination with the United States with the goal of convincing the Iranians to provide concrete guarantees that the regime will only seek "civilian purposes" for its nuclear energy program. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week said the Israeli attacks on Iran had significantly weakened Iranian leadership and may have undermined any chance to regain its former strength, leaving the country's future "uncertain." Merz had also underscored his nation's commitment to a diplomatic solution even as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to escalate, saying: "If a new situation were to arise, we would again be prepared to provide diplomatic assistance, as we were until last Thursday." German Foreign Minister Johan Wadephul also appealed to Iranian leadership to end the conflict and assure that Tehran will not seek nuclear weapons, saying that it's "never too late to come to the negotiating table." Brad McGurk, a former Middle East & North Africa coordinator for the National Security Council, told CNN's Anderson Cooper that he has "low expectations" that the meeting between European and Iranian officials will produce a result, but he urged Iran's leadership to find a "diplomatic offramp" for the conflict. What People Are Saying President Trump to reporters on Wednesday in part: "Maybe we won't have to fight. I'm not looking to fight. But if it's a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do." He added that had "ideas" about what to do regarding Iran, saying: "I like to make the final decision one second before it's due ... Things change with war." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a national address in part: "We warn America of the consequences of engaging in war, because it will suffer severe damage if it decides to do so. War is met with war, bombing with bombing, and strike with strike." What Happens Next Trump has indicated he is weighing potential U.S. involvement in the conflict, to which Iranian officials have pledged retaliation. Meanwhile, Russia has warned the U.S. against getting involved at the risk of prompting a wider regional conflict. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Germany to Iran: Prove you're not building nuclear weapons
Shafaq News/ German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Iran on Wednesday to provide clear, verifiable assurances that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. At a joint press conference in Berlin with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany's openness to diplomacy but pressed Tehran to act swiftly. 'It is never too late to come to the negotiating table, if one comes with sincere intentions.' His remarks followed a sharp escalation in regional tensions after Israel's June 13 launch of Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Tehran claimed the strikes also hit peaceful nuclear facilities. Germany, along with the US and UK, has endorsed Israel's right to self-defense in response to Iran's retaliatory barrage, known as True Promise 3. On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz defended the Israeli campaign, describing it as 'the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us.'
