BERLIN – German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul issued a firm ultimatum to Tehran on May 3, calling for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a complete, verifiable abandonment of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, Wadephul reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to its alliance with Washington, echoing demands previously set forth by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The diplomatic outreach comes as Wadephul and other Berlin officials scramble to de-escalate a heated rift between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Donald Trump. Tensions flared on April 27 when Merz suggested that Iran was “humiliating” the US during negotiations, prompting a sharp backlash from the White House. In response, President Trump announced the imminent relocation of 5,000 troops from German bases and a significant tariff hike on EU-manufactured vehicles, which are set to rise from 15 percent to 25 percent.
Trump has publicly criticized the EU for its perceived failure to adhere to a trade agreement finalized in the summer of 2025. These economic pressures coincide with a stalemate in efforts to resolve the US-led military campaign against Iran. Although a fragile ceasefire has been in place since early April, prospects for a lasting peace remain dim; President Trump stated on May 3 that he remains skeptical of Tehran’s latest peace proposals, suggesting that Iran has not yet “paid a big enough price.”
The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains a primary global concern, as the waterway previously facilitated the transit of nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. While Chancellor Merz has voiced opposition to the war, emphasizing the severe economic consequences of the current regional instability, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards appear emboldened. In a statement released on May 3, the force warned that the United States is currently faced with a binary choice: “an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic republic.”