Germany Urges the U.S. to Consider Dialogue with Iran

Germany welcomed the announcement by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson regarding the examination of potential dialogue opportunities with North Korea, urging the U.S. government to adopt a similar approach for potential dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tillerson stated on Saturday in Beijing that there are direct communication channels between the United States and North Korea, and that the U.S. is 'considering Pyongyang's willingness to engage in dialogue.' He also clarified that the U.S. has its own direct communication channels, in response to a question about China's involvement in establishing such communications. This statement was complemented by a U.S. State Department announcement, which noted that despite these communication channels, North Korean officials have shown no interest in discussing nuclear disarmament. On Sunday, however, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel welcomed the U.S. approach regarding potential dialogue opportunities with North Korea, while also calling for a similar process to be adopted regarding Iran. Previously, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had expressed readiness to participate in potential dialogues with North Korea, suggesting that the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) could serve as a model for resolving this crisis. Current U.S. President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal since before his election victory last year and has repeatedly criticized it since taking office. Trump administration officials have frequently blamed Iran for pursuing ballistic missile programs and supporting militia groups in the region, viewing these 'destructive and destabilizing behaviors' as contrary to the spirit of the nuclear agreement, which stipulates that Iran should contribute to regional and global peace and stability. Although the current U.S. administration has twice confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, the belief among officials that the agreement is 'flawed' and that Iran has violated its spirit has cast doubt on future confirmations. Nevertheless, the German Foreign Minister warned in his Sunday statement that the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal could undermine Washington's credibility in negotiations with North Korea. Gabriel described the U.S. proposal for negotiations with North Korea as 'the right path' and stated that 'North Korea will be advised to take such negotiations seriously.' Germany is one of the few Western countries with a permanent embassy in Pyongyang and has supported peaceful approaches to de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula. Regarding Iran, Germany, which was one of the six global powers negotiating the nuclear program, has stated that it will work to prevent the U.S. from exiting the agreement while maintaining its own position on the nuclear deal.