06/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/13/2025 09:48
Overnight, the Israeli armed forces attacked sites related to the Iranian nuclear weapons programme as well as the leadership structures of the Iranian military and Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed me by phone this morning about the military operations and their targets.
I then called a meeting of the Federal Government's security cabinet. We discussed the situation on the basis of the information available to us.
The Federal Government has for many years repeatedly voiced its concern about Iran's advanced nuclear weapons programme. Just yesterday, in a resolution sponsored by Germany together with France and the United Kingdom, the International Atomic Energy Agency once again established that Iran is still failing to fulfil its obligations to disclose its work on enriching nuclear-capable material. In consequence, Iran threatened to accelerate uranium enrichment once more. This nuclear programme violates the terms of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is a serious threat to the entire region, particularly the State of Israel.
We reaffirm that Israel has the right to defend its existence and the safety and security of its citizens.
We call on both sides to refrain from taking steps that could lead to further escalation and destabilise the entire region. We are liaising closely with our partners, in particular within the E3 with France and the UK and with the United States of America. Germany is prepared to use all available diplomatic means to exert influence on the parties to the conflict. As before, the aim must be to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.
We agreed in the security cabinet to take all necessary precautions to protect German nationals in Israel, Iran and the region. The security authorities will step up protection for Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany.