German chancellor accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons program

BERLIN

Germany’s chancellor on Tuesday accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Citing the recent announcement of Iran’s leadership to continue uranium enrichment to over 60%, Friedrich Merz told the parliament in Berlin: “This announcement, the deep bunkering of the centrifuges, the restriction of access for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commissioner, and the constant deception of the public demonstrate how serious Iran truly was and clearly is about its nuclear weapons program.”

He said Germany hopes that the recent actions of Israel and the US will “permanently deter Iran from coming any closer to its destructive goal. Not only Israel, but also Europe and the world as a whole are threatened by this Iranian nuclear program and at the same time, the conflict with Iran must not plunge the region into war.”

Merz reiterated that “Iran must not possess nuclear weapons,” while accusing the Iranian leadership of “destabilizing the entire Middle East for decades."

The chancellor’s remarks came after Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, said the UN nuclear watchdog does not have any proof of a systematic effort by Iran to move to a nuclear weapon.

Earlier in the day, Merz welcomed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

"I welcome the call by the American President for a sequenced ceasefire," Merz wrote on X.

He called on Iran and Israel to heed the call while thanking Qatar and other countries in the region for their "prudence" over the last few “dramatic” days.

"If this ceasefire succeeds following the decisive military strikes by the U.S. against Iran’s nuclear facilities, it would be a very positive development. It will make the Middle East and the world safer," Merz noted.

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect at 0400GMT Tuesday following hours of intensified mutual hostilities.

The ceasefire was initially announced by Trump, who said it would involve a phased halt to operations, with Iran beginning the ceasefire first and Israel following 12 hours later. A full end to hostilities would then be declared at the 24th hour.

On Monday, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions following the US targeting of three Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday.

The US attacks were the latest escalation in a US-backed Israeli military assault on Iran since June 13, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel.

Merz calls for 'ceasefire' in Gaza

The German chancellor also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the civilians to be treated with "humane dignity."

"Now the moment has come to conclude a ceasefire for Gaza as well," he said.

He noted that they allow themselves to "critically question what goal Israel wants to achieve in the Gaza Strip."

"We urge the people of the Gaza Strip to be treated with humane dignity, especially women, children, and the elderly," he added.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 56,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.