Unrelenting Israel-Iran Conflict
Wadephul's group set to confer with Iran's minister this coming Friday.
Berlin (dpa) — Germany's Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, is set to meet with Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghtschi, this Friday in Geneva. Sources in Berlin have confirmed the diplomatic tussle to the German Press Agency.
Last week, Wadephul postponed his planned trip to Lebanon, Syria, and Israel due to Israel's bombardment of Iran. Instead, he rushed to crisis meetings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Oman, known for its close ties with Tehran, played a pivotal role in these attendances.
Wadephul's primary aim is to orchestrate a unified strategy among the E3 nations—Germany, France, and the UK—who've been in talks with Iran over its nuclear program for years. Additionally, he seeks the support of Iran's Middle Eastern neighbors for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing war.
Initially, the US and Iran had been engaged in negotiations, mediated by Oman, for almost two months. However, Israel initiated a massive assault on Iran on Friday, following which Iran retaliated with intensive rocket attacks.
Round of Negotiations Cancelled
Initially, a new round of talks in Oman was scheduled for last Sunday. Negotiations had stalled over the contentious issue of uranium enrichment. Iran has recently enriched near-weapons-grade material. Although willing to restrict its program according to the 2015 Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran is determined to retain its enrichment capability.
US President Donald Trump reemphasized his demand for "unconditional surrender" on Wednesday, but he didn't completely rule out further negotiations, stating, "It's not too late." Trump had withdraw from the Vienna nuclear agreement in 2018, following which Iran also disregarded the obligations.
Persistent Military Conflict
During a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart Aiman al-Safadi in Berlin on Wednesday, Wadephul revealed that he, along with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, British Foreign Minister David Lammy, and the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, had extended a negotiating proposal to Araghtschi during a telephone conversation on Monday. Despite this, Tehran remains unresponsive, and the onslaught between Israel and Iran continues undiminished.
Experts have recently expressed few hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran. Israel justifies its war based on the "existential threat" posed by Iran's nuclear and rocket program. As of June 21, 2025, there are no signs of diplomatic engagement or negotiation attempts to resolve the conflict. The ongoing military actions suggest that both nations are far from considerating dialogue.
Diplomatic efforts led by Germany's Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, aim to secure a unified strategy among the E3 nations and the support of Iran's Middle Eastern neighbors for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran conflict, which is part of the broader discussion of war-and-conflicts, as documented in the politics and general-news realms.
The ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, marked by recent escalations and disagreements over uranium enrichment, has led to the cancelation of scheduled negotiations, further highlighting the difficulties in resolving this prolonged dispute through diplomatic channels.
