Trump Threatens to Withdraw 5,000 Troops, Germany Immediately Urges Iran to Open Strait of Hormuz

As a close US ally, we share the same goal: Iran must fully and verifiably abandon nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, as also demanded by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” wrote Wadephul on X, as reported by AFP on Sunday (3/5/2026). For context, Merz took a different stance last week on the US-Iran war. He instead criticised the US for being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and condemned Washington’s lack of strategy. Trump Threatens to Withdraw Thousands of Troops from Germany Previously reported, Donald Trump stated that his side would withdraw more than 5,000 troops from Germany following the rift in relations. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius responded to the US stance. As reported by BBC on Sunday (3/5), Pistorius said the US decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from his country “could have been predicted”. “The presence of American soldiers in Europe, and particularly in Germany, is in our interest and the interest of the US,” said Pistorius, as reported by the DPA news agency.