Germany will not participate in international efforts to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Sunday said Germany would not participate in a potential international military effort to protect commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Berlin did not intend to engage in an Iranian war.

"Will we soon be an active part of this conflict? No," Wadephul told public broadcaster ARD, responding to the war in Iran and questions about the extension of the ongoing EU mission to the Strait of Hormuz, launching Dail Sabah from Deutsche Presse-Agentur 16 March.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Wadephul said the German government has a very clear position on this, which has been emphasized by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

"We will not participate in this conflict," he said.

Foreign Minister Wadephul said the United States and Israel said the goal (of the attack) was to destroy Iran's military capabilities, especially its nuclear and missile programs.

"And what we hope for now is to be informed and continue to be informed, and to be involved after this happens. And then we really want to take part in entering into negotiations," he explained.

"Security in the Strait of Hormuz will only be achieved if there is a negotiated solution and if then a discussion is held with Iran," added the German Foreign Minister.

It is known that tensions have increased in the Middle East, following the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, which Tehran said killed more than 1,300 people, including Ali Khamenei, the former supreme leader, and more than 150 students.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf states hosting US military assets.

Tehran has also effectively tightened the Strait of Hormuz since March 1. This narrow waterway transports around 20 million barrels of oil per day and about 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade.

Most recently, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a statement read by a presenter on state television on Thursday said Iranian forces must keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed, as quoted by Al Arabiya and AFP.

US President Donald Trump has offered the prospect of military assistance from an unnamed number of countries to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for global oil transport. Shipping there has practically stopped, raising oil prices.

On Monday, the foreign ministers of the European Union member states are scheduled to meet in Brussels for the first time since the start of the Iran conflict.

Regarding the possibility of expanding the EU's Aspides mission, Foreign Minister Wadephul said the mission, which is essentially focused on the Red Sea, has so far not been effective.

"And that's why I am very skeptical about whether the expansion of Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz will be able to provide greater security. We will now discuss all of this calmly together. We are participating constructively in this," he explained.

In February 2024, the European Union decided to launch Operation Aspides to protect shipping in the Red Sea. A Bundeswehr frigate also took part in this operation.