According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 3, 2026, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held talks with Iran’s foreign minister, urging the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and demanding that Tehran abandon its nuclear programme.
“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,” Wadephul wrote on X.
US President Donald Trump has expressed anger toward European allies, accusing them of refusing to support his military campaign alongside Israel against Iran.
His criticism has been particularly directed at leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom he has publicly rebuked for their positions.
Merz last week criticised the war in Iran, saying the United States is being ‘humiliated’ by the Iranian leadership and arguing that Washington lacks a coherent strategy, comments that further deepened transatlantic tensions over the conflict.
The exchange highlights widening divisions between Washington and several European capitals over the approach to Iran, particularly as diplomatic pressure, military action, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz remain central points of dispute.
European officials, meanwhile, have been increasingly vocal about the risks of escalation in the region and the potential economic impact of disruptions to global energy flows through the strategic waterway, while also attempting to balance diplomatic engagement with pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities.
Both sides continue to seek leverage as negotiations remain stalled, with concerns that further deterioration could complicate regional stability and draw in wider international involvement if tensions escalate further in coming weeks soon…Read_More…