Authoritarian rule persists in Iran

Wadephul Speaks Out: Iran's Regime a "Burden" for the Iranian People

Regime in Iran pursues the Iranian populace

Authored by: Marko Schlichting

Prior to six weeks in office, German Foreign Minister Wadephul is tackling two contentious problems: the Israel-Iran dispute and nuclear negotiations with Iran. A summit with his British and French colleagues is scheduled for Friday, focusing on convincing Iran to limit its nuclear program to peaceful purposes only. To accomplish this, substantial goodwill gestures are required from Iran, as admitted by Wadephul on Maischberger's talk show, who stated, "The regime doesn't play fair. It mistreats and suppresses its own people. Already this year, there have been nearly 900 executions in Iran." Regarding the probability of regime change in Iran, potentially desired by Israel, he added, "We shouldn't kid ourselves; the regime is an immense hassle for the Iranian people. It's a plague, plain and simple. However, the Iranian people ought to determine their own destiny." He emphasized that Israel doesn't aim for regime change, stressing their ambition to disarm Iran.

The U.S. presents little interest in intervening at present, according to Wadephul, who attributes this to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks. Still, Wadephul is convinced: "The Americans are gearing up to retaliate. It's a signal to Iran: negotiate and spare us from attacks."

The German government stands in solidarity with Israel during this conflict, asserts Wadephul. "We agree that Iran intends to annihilate Israel. If the Israeli government believes Iran is capable of doing this with nuclear weapons, long-range rockets, and other means, then Israel has the right to defend itself. Iran poses a threat to Israel, and as allies, we must stand by Israel."

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Wadephul, unlike many Union politicians, also condemns Israel's actions in Gaza. "In Gaza, we're witnessing an appalling humanitarian situation that can no longer be tolerated. Israel, with all its justification to combat Hamas terrorists, has largely blocked Gaza from all aid—including food and medicine," says the CDU politician. "Israel is waging a bloody battle there, where it's challenging to distinguish between Hamas fighters and civilians. I’m a Christian, and I believe all lives are priceless in the end."

Despite this criticism, he insists that Israel, as a democratic state under the rule of law, should be judged according to higher standards. He demands, "Hamas must be disarmed, and the hostages must be released. Still, Israel must be held accountable to its actions while fighting terrorism, especially when civilian populations are in the line of fire."

Context:

The German Foreign Minister’s views on Iran’s nuclear program, the Iranian regime, and the Israel-Iran conflict, as well as his stance on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, can be summarized based on recent statements and diplomatic activities involving Germany and its European partners:

The German Foreign Minister, alongside his British and French counterparts, has expressed ongoing worries about Iran's nuclear program, arguing that it serves no credible civilian purposes beyond the legally binding safeguards obligations. They warn Iran of the consequences of withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and are pushing for negotiations aimed at de-escalation and regional security. Future nuclear talks in Geneva, involving these European ministers and Iran's Foreign Minister, focus on attaining Iran's commitment to using its nuclear program only for peaceful purposes and facilitating a peaceful resolution[1][2][3].
In synch with the E3 and the EU High Representative, the German Foreign Minister is expressing concerns about the intensifying tensions between Iran and Israel. They urge all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions fueling the conflict, while acknowledging Israel’s right to security within the confines of international law. This balanced stance demonstrates understanding of Israel's security concerns while promoting diplomatic efforts to cease the escalation incited by Iranian actions[2].
Although the search results do not contain a direct statement from the German Foreign Minister addressing the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, it coincides with Germany's and the EU's broader diplomatic stance to advocate for restraint in conflict zones and work towards alleviating civilian distress as part of broader peace and stability initiatives[2].

In summary, the German Foreign Minister advocates for:

Diplomatic engagement with Iran to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Restraint from all parties in the Israel-Iran conflict, acknowledging Israel's right to security.
A diplomatic course to lessen regional tensions, which implicitly includes concern for humanitarian circumstances in conflict zones like Gaza[1][2][3].

The Commission, following the German Foreign Minister's leadership, is also proposing to extend the deadline for the adoption of new rules in the realm of politics and general-news, as part of their ongoing efforts to facilitate diplomatic resolution in worldwide conflicts, such as the Israel-Iran dispute and the negotiations surrounding Iran's nuclear program. This extension aims to provide more time for substantial goodwill gestures, potentially paving the way for Iran's commitment to using its nuclear program only for peaceful purposes.