Germany will not participate in military strikes against Iran, Foreign Minister Wadephul says

BERLIN

Germany announced on Monday that it will not participate in military strikes against Iran, despite its support for the US and Israel's goal of dismantling Tehran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Berlin is closely coordinating its position with European partners, the UK and France, though each country will decide independently what military defensive measures to take.

“The UK has concluded that it will make military bases available to the Americans. We don't have any bases there, we also don't have the corresponding military resources,” he told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. “And the German government definitely has no intention of participating in any way,” he said.

The three European powers, often referred to as E3 countries, announced in a joint statement Sunday evening that they are prepared to take "necessary and proportionate defensive measures" to destroy Iran’s capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.

“Each of these three E3 members will interpret that for themselves. The UK has interpreted it to mean that they are now making bases available to the US, something they haven't done before,” Wadephul said.

“For us Germany, it means nothing more than that our Bundeswehr soldiers would defend themselves defensively if they were attacked. From the German perspective, there will be no further measures beyond that,” he stressed.

Israel's Army Radio reported earlier on Monday that Germany is weighing participation in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran should Tehran persist with retaliatory strikes in the region. The broadcaster said planning for potential military involvement with the US is already underway, with options ranging from participation in airstrikes to logistical and aerial support, citing unidentified political and military sources.