In a post on X, Merz said both US and Germany agreed that Iran must return to negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened, and Tehran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons<\/p>\n
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday said he held a \u201cgreat phone call\u201d with US President Donald Trump following Trump\u2019s return trip from China, during which the two leaders discussed Iran, Ukraine and Nato coordination.<\/p>\n
In a post on X, Merz said both sides agreed that Iran must return to negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened, and Tehran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n
Gutes Telefonat mit @POTUS<\/a> Donald Trump auf seiner R\u00fcckreise aus China. Wir sind uns einig: Iran muss jetzt an den Verhandlungstisch. Die Stra\u00dfe von Hormus muss ge\u00f6ffnet werden. Teheran darf keine Nuklearwaffen haben. (1\/2)<\/p>\n \u2014 Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) May 15, 2026<\/a>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cWe agree: Iran must now come to the negotiating table. The Strait of Hormuz must be opened. Tehran must not have nuclear weapons,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Merz also said the two leaders discussed prospects for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine and coordinated positions ahead of an upcoming Nato summit in Ankara.<\/p>\n Wir haben auch \u00fcber eine Friedensl\u00f6sung f\u00fcr die Ukraine gesprochen und uns vor dem NATO-Gipfel in Ankara abgestimmt. Die USA und Deutschland sind starke Partner in einer starken NATO. (2\/2)<\/p>\n \u2014 Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) May 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe also discussed a peaceful solution for Ukraine and coordinated ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. The USA and Germany are strong partners in a strong NATO,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The call came days after US President Donald Trump announced a troop withdrawal two weeks ago, days after Merz said Iran was \u201chumiliating\u201d Washington at the negotiating table.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Trump had earlier launched sharp criticism of Merz, saying in a post on his Truth Social, \u201cThe Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia\/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy.\u201d<\/p>\n He further added that Merz should spend \u201cless time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the earlier exchange of barbs, Merz\u2019s statement on Friday suggested the two leaders had moved past the disagreement and were broadly aligned on Washington\u2019s objectives in the US-Israel confrontation with Iran.<\/p>\n With inputs from agencies<\/p>\n First Published: Home<\/a>World<\/a>Merz holds ‘great phone call’ with Trump, says US and Germany agree Iran must return to talksEnd of Article
\nMay 15, 2026, 20:47 IST<\/p>\n