BERLIN
The German and South African foreign ministers on Monday called on the US and Iran to swiftly resume negotiations, stressing that diplomacy remains the only path to a lasting solution to the conflict.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he hopes talks between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime will resume in the coming days, after the end of the weekend’s talks in Islamabad without an agreement.
“The ceasefire is holding, and I can only urgently appeal to both sides to make use of this time,” Wadephul told a joint press conference in Berlin with his South African counterpart. “This is in the interest of the international community and the region. I believe it is also in the interest of the warring parties.”
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola echoed Germany’s position, saying the two countries agree that negotiations are the only way forward. He expressed disappointment that the talks in Pakistan ended abruptly after just 21 hours.
“With a conflict of this nature, it takes time to find a solution,” Lamola said. “The negotiations must continue. The dialogue must be deepened, and a comprehensive, durable and peaceful solution must be found – and the only way to find it is on the negotiating table.”
Lamola criticized US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a blockade on Iranian ports to halt all maritime traffic in and out of the country. “We do not think that the blockade will help the negotiations,” he warned.
“We think that more efforts must be directed toward negotiations and confidence-building measures that will build trust between the parties,” he added.
