German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expects Iran to exert its influence over Houthi terrorists in Yemen to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, he said on Thursday.
“We condemn this in the strongest possible terms and expect Iran to exert its influence on the Houthis to put an end to it,” said Wadephul at a press conference in Vienna with his Israeli and Austrian counterparts.
“This shows that we need an understanding with Iran as a whole, not only regarding the development, the possible development of nuclear weapons, but also regarding Iran’s regional behaviour.”
Concerns over human rights situation in Afghanistan
Wadephul also said on Thursday that Berlin was only in technical contact with representatives of the Taliban’s de facto government in Afghanistan, nothing more, and would continue to monitor the human rights situation there.
“There are serious concerns about the humanitarian situation there, the human rights situation in Afghanistan, and particularly the situation of women and girls, and we, as the federal government, will continue to make these clear to the Taliban’s de facto regime,” said Wadephul in Vienna.
Germany’s interior minister had said earlier this month that he wants to negotiate a direct agreement with the Taliban on receiving Afghan migrants deported from Germany.