Talks in Paris: Merz warns of stress test
Following talks in Paris on the Strait of Hormuz, Federal Chancellor Merz called for close coordination with Washington – and warned of a global crisis.
Tehran/Washington/Paris (dpa, d.de) – Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that efforts to end the war with Iran must not put a strain on relations with the United States. “This war must not turn into a transatlantic stress test,” Merz said in Paris after talks on a possible military deployment to secure the Strait of Hormuz along Iran’s coast. “That means we need to align politically and decide together what to do next,” he added, continuing: “If what we have set out to achieve fails, there is a risk of a major multidimensional global crisis.” Earlier, Germany had announced that it would contribute to safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially through mine clearance and maritime reconnaissance.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. After Iran’s leadership said on Friday that it would reopen the waterway to oil tankers and commercial vessels, that decision has since been reversed. This was announced by the armed forces’ headquarters, according to the Fars news agency. The reason given was the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports, targeting vessels entering and leaving Iran. According to US President Donald Trump, the blockade will remain in place “until the full completion of our agreements with Iran”.
