Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Tuesday strongly condemned comments made by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul regarding mine clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Berlin of complicity in military aggression against Tehran. In a post on X, Baghaei described Wadephul's remarks as "utterly shameful" and a "grotesque distortion of reality."
Baghaei Demands Accountability
"Germany must be held fully accountable for its complicity in military aggression against Iran and bear the heavy costs of its active participation in the crime of aggression," Baghaei wrote. He further asserted that "no amount of offensive posturing will allow the Berlin regime to evade responsibility for its role in this illegal war and the war crimes committed against the Iranian people."
Wadephul's Remarks on Mine Clearance
The Iranian response came after German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that Iran should bear the cost of clearing mines from international shipping routes, accusing Tehran of unlawfully laying mines in a key maritime corridor. According to Al Jazeera, Wadephul told a newspaper, "We do not need to offer Tehran anything at all; quite the contrary: Iran has unlawfully mined an international shipping lane." He added that while Germany is not currently planning to charge Iran for mine clearance operations, "it would be justified" for Tehran to pay the costs "since we would be remedying damage caused by the regime."
US-Iran Negotiations and Denials
Last week, Wadephul met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, where both welcomed the agreement between the US and Iran to halt mutual attacks and continue negotiations. However, Tehran has denied reports of any imminent bilateral negotiations with the US. Baghaei stated that no talks were scheduled at any level in the coming days, adding that an Iranian expert delegation would travel to Doha to follow up on the implementation of the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding.
Trump's Threats and Iranian Condemnation
On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the US would either reach a deal with Iran or "finish the job," claiming the US had the capability to destroy Iran's critical infrastructure if necessary. Trump said he preferred diplomacy but warned that Washington could cripple Iran's bridges, energy infrastructure, and power-generation facilities "in a small part of an afternoon." Iran has repeatedly condemned Trump's remarks. Earlier, the Iranian Embassy in Armenia criticized Trump over comments suggesting Washington could eliminate Iran's surviving leadership, accusing the United States of lacking "civilisation, history, nor honour."
