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Iran-Israel: Does diplomacy still have a chance?

2025-06-20 09:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Three European foreign ministers meet with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva on Friday. Can progress be made? Intense military pressure on Tehran could facilitate this.

The foreign ministers of the so-called "E3" - Germany, France and the United Kingdom - are meeting in Geneva on Friday (June 20) to discuss the future of Iran's nuclear program with their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is also expected to attend.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul spoke on the German ARD program about the threat posed by Iran, which affects not only Israel but "us as well." While Iran has recently slowed down its nuclear program, enrichment has "certainly continued" and is "far above civilian levels." So what mediating role can Germany play, and what expectations do E3 ministers have in Geneva?

Röttgen: "Real change" in Middle East politics

Norbert Röttgen, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, who had often criticized the previous German coalition government for its inconsistent policy towards Iran, now sees Germany in a "clear position." Chancellor Merz has "taken the lead" and made it clear that the danger stems from Iran, as the country is trying to become a nuclear power.

This is a crucial point and "a real change from previous Middle East policy," Röttgen said. But whether there will be a real change in the negotiations in Geneva remains unclear.

But why continue negotiations when diplomacy has not been able to stop Iran's nuclear program in the past? "We must prove that we are still capable of resolving conflicts in this world diplomatically," says SPD foreign policy spokesman Adis Ahmetovic. The Iranian regime must return to the negotiating table. Germany enjoys great trust in the Middle East, also because of its role in the negotiations for the 2015 nuclear deal, according to Ahmetovic.

Germany played a key role in reaching the nuclear deal with Iran ten years ago. In addition to the E3 countries, the negotiating group at the time also included the US, Russia and China.

Trump wants "unconditional surrender"

Green Party politician and Vice President of the Bundestag, Omid Nouripour, told the ARD morning program that he considers the diplomatic efforts "very good and important." He believes this could be the last chance "to prevent a major outbreak." He himself came to Germany with his family from Iran at the age of 13.

But while the Europeans want to talk about Iran's nuclear program being used only for civilian purposes, US President Trump recently spoke of "unconditional surrender." Iran must completely abandon its nuclear program. "There are a lot of uncertainties at this point," says Nouripour. "So the question is whether the Europeans will negotiate in a way that satisfies the Americans."

Although European diplomacy has often encountered its limits in the past, foreign policy expert Röttgen nevertheless sees the talks in Geneva as an opportunity, as the situation in Iran is different now and the existence of the mullahs' regime is threatened. Perhaps abandoning the nuclear program is currently "the lesser evil," says Röttgen. "The regime should be given the chance. It's good that the Europeans are offering it that."/ DW