Germany ready to secure Strait of Hormuz following ceasefire

Berlin (ANTARA) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (16 April) that Germany is ready to contribute militarily to securing the Strait of Hormuz following the ceasefire between the US and Iran. Speaking at a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin after their meeting in Berlin, Merz reaffirmed support for diplomatic initiatives to maintain the ceasefire and continue negotiations. “We agree that there will be no lasting peace in this region without a diplomatic solution. This requires a viable and robust agreement. In this context, it must be clear that Iran’s military nuclear programme must be stopped. Iran must not acquire a nuclear bomb,” he said. When asked about the Friday (17 April) meeting in Paris, to be hosted jointly by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Merz said Germany is ready to contribute to securing the Strait of Hormuz, provided legal and political conditions are met. “In principle, we are ready to participate in securing the transit route. This requires an end to hostilities. At the very least, a temporary ceasefire is needed,” he told journalists. He added that any German military involvement would require an international legal mandate, preferably from the UN. After that, Germany would need to approve the mission, followed by a vote in parliament. “We are still far from that,” Merz stressed. He declined to comment on media reports that the German navy is preparing minesweepers for possible deployment, saying that details of any potential mission and Germany’s possible contribution would be discussed at the Paris meeting.