German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Tehran to return to negotiations with the US, warning that a prolonged conflict will have serious consequences throughout the region and beyond, reports Anadolu.

“Iran must sit down at the negotiating table. It must stop playing with time,” Merz said at a joint press conference with Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Berlin. “Iran must no longer hold the region – and the entire world – hostage,” he said.

His remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump announced he had decided to postpone a major military strike against Iran planned for Tuesday, following direct appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

However, Trump added that he had instructed senior defense and military officials to “to be prepared to proceed with a full-scale and full-scale attack on Iran, at any time, in the event that an acceptable agreement is not reached”.

Chancellor Merz underlined that the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is threatening the global economy and causing significant damage to export-oriented countries such as Germany and Switzerland.

“Therefore, we are working with our partners to restore freedom of navigation.” in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible,” Merz told reporters.

“Once the necessary preconditions are met, Germany will also be ready to contribute its military capabilities to this effort,” he added.

Source: prizrenpost